Obituary for Walter Kenneth Lawrence
Walter K. Lawrence was welcomed home by Jesus early on Sunday morning, April 16th, 2023, in his 80th year, at his home in Haileybury, Ontario. Walter was born to Reginald and Edna (nee Scott) Lawrence on Friday, December 24th, 1943, at the Englehart hospital, the second of eventually four siblings. He is pre-deceased by his parents, his brothers Frank and Patrick, and an infant granddaughter, Melissa Foster. Walter worked for six years at Macassa gold mine in Kirkland Lake, and then, when his children were just toddlers, he followed his dreams and launched Walter’s Radio and TV in New Liskeard, which he eventually sold in 1986. Walter could fix anything, and truly enjoyed working on projects, whether cutting trees, diagnosing especially tricky problems with electronics, changing a tire, or shingling a roof.
In 2011, he met the love of his life, Inge, and they married in 2012. Never one to sit still, he finished out his working career at Electronic North, retiring finally at the age of 70 to what he called a new weekly routine of “six Saturdays and a Sunday”, labouring on his property to make it just what he and Inge dreamed it should be. Even near the end of his life, he still worked on a casual basis on specialty electronic work and demonstrated his cedar shingle mill at the Earlton Steam Show again this past summer. Always up for an adventure, Walter is well-known to friends and family as the guy who always had a story, joke or Robert Service poem at the ready in any situation. He did not like to draw attention to himself, but truly enjoyed people, and would always be the first to volunteer to help a friend or neighbour or his church with a project. Walter’s family was his pride and joy, and he loved when the family gathered at his home. He loved the outdoors, and as recently as last winter spent time cutting firewood and sliding down the groomed tobogganing hill on his property just like one of the kids. He and Inge hosted many joyful family gatherings at their home, and made many friends feel welcomed around their table as well. Most important to Walter, though, was the commitment he made to Jesus at a church service in Kirkland Lake at the age of 20. He never wavered from his faith after that – one of his greatest joys was reaching out to young families and children in the Tri-Town area and letting them know the good news of God’s love for them. He always had a big heart for kids and was involved in either captaining or driving the Sunday School bus, teaching Sunday School and Kids Church, or supporting leadership of the church’s youth group for many, many years. Walter is survived and will be remembered with thankful hearts by his loving wife of more than 10 years, Inge (nee Remers), his three children and their spouses: Karen (Jon) Foster, Deborah (Declan) O’Sullivan, and Daniel (Lucie); his eight grandchildren: Sarah (Matthew) Brandsma, Bethany and Jonathan Foster, Joshua (Amanda), and Micheal Lawrence, Clara, Seamus and Sophia O’Sullivan; and six great-grandchildren: Boaz, Ari, Silas, Rosie, Eliyah, and Ariyah; as well as Inge’s children: Angela (Dennis) Gingrich, and Randy Indoe; grandchildren Anna (Steve) Nabert, Rebecca and Rachel Gingrich, and great-grandson Jackson; as well as his sister Norma (the late Stuart) Riddell, close cousin Mel (Frances) Longyear, sisters-in-law Hilde and Ruth Remers, brothers-in-law Wally (Elaine) and Herb Remers; aunts and uncles, and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at Temiskaming Pentecostal Church on Saturday, April 22nd at 2 pm, with visitation beginning at 1 pm. This event will be live streamed as well at https://youtube.com/@temiskamingchurch2561. A private family interment will take place at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to BUFFAM LEVEILLE FUNERAL HOME, Haileybury Location, 705-672-3122. The family wishes to thank Dr. Currie and the healthcare professionals at Community Care Partners, the Temiskaming Hospital and the Sudbury Health Science Northeast Cancer Centre who gave such excellent care to Walter during his last nine months while he battled with cancer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Temiskaming Pentecostal Church or World Vision Canada. Online condolences accepted at www.buffamleveille.com.
In 2011, he met the love of his life, Inge, and they married in 2012. Never one to sit still, he finished out his working career at Electronic North, retiring finally at the age of 70 to what he called a new weekly routine of “six Saturdays and a Sunday”, labouring on his property to make it just what he and Inge dreamed it should be. Even near the end of his life, he still worked on a casual basis on specialty electronic work and demonstrated his cedar shingle mill at the Earlton Steam Show again this past summer. Always up for an adventure, Walter is well-known to friends and family as the guy who always had a story, joke or Robert Service poem at the ready in any situation. He did not like to draw attention to himself, but truly enjoyed people, and would always be the first to volunteer to help a friend or neighbour or his church with a project. Walter’s family was his pride and joy, and he loved when the family gathered at his home. He loved the outdoors, and as recently as last winter spent time cutting firewood and sliding down the groomed tobogganing hill on his property just like one of the kids. He and Inge hosted many joyful family gatherings at their home, and made many friends feel welcomed around their table as well. Most important to Walter, though, was the commitment he made to Jesus at a church service in Kirkland Lake at the age of 20. He never wavered from his faith after that – one of his greatest joys was reaching out to young families and children in the Tri-Town area and letting them know the good news of God’s love for them. He always had a big heart for kids and was involved in either captaining or driving the Sunday School bus, teaching Sunday School and Kids Church, or supporting leadership of the church’s youth group for many, many years. Walter is survived and will be remembered with thankful hearts by his loving wife of more than 10 years, Inge (nee Remers), his three children and their spouses: Karen (Jon) Foster, Deborah (Declan) O’Sullivan, and Daniel (Lucie); his eight grandchildren: Sarah (Matthew) Brandsma, Bethany and Jonathan Foster, Joshua (Amanda), and Micheal Lawrence, Clara, Seamus and Sophia O’Sullivan; and six great-grandchildren: Boaz, Ari, Silas, Rosie, Eliyah, and Ariyah; as well as Inge’s children: Angela (Dennis) Gingrich, and Randy Indoe; grandchildren Anna (Steve) Nabert, Rebecca and Rachel Gingrich, and great-grandson Jackson; as well as his sister Norma (the late Stuart) Riddell, close cousin Mel (Frances) Longyear, sisters-in-law Hilde and Ruth Remers, brothers-in-law Wally (Elaine) and Herb Remers; aunts and uncles, and many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at Temiskaming Pentecostal Church on Saturday, April 22nd at 2 pm, with visitation beginning at 1 pm. This event will be live streamed as well at https://youtube.com/@temiskamingchurch2561. A private family interment will take place at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to BUFFAM LEVEILLE FUNERAL HOME, Haileybury Location, 705-672-3122. The family wishes to thank Dr. Currie and the healthcare professionals at Community Care Partners, the Temiskaming Hospital and the Sudbury Health Science Northeast Cancer Centre who gave such excellent care to Walter during his last nine months while he battled with cancer. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Temiskaming Pentecostal Church or World Vision Canada. Online condolences accepted at www.buffamleveille.com.