TAMA- Gerald Edward Lawson, age 85, of Tama died Friday, February 9, 2007 at Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama due to a lengthy illness. Private family services will be held at a later date. Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home, Tama-Toledo is handling the arrangements.
Gerald was born on November 16, 1921 in Bucklin, Missouri, the son of Fred and Beatrice (Burk) Lawson. He grew up in a family of eleven children. He served his country in the Army Air Force during WWII. Gerald was blessed with seven children from his first marriage. He was united in marriage to Kathryn Benedik on January 23, 1965 in Lancaster, Missouri. Gerald worked as a spot welder for Lennox in Marshalltown and retired in 1984 after 35 years of service. He greatly enjoyed the 21 years that he and Kathryn spent wintering in Donna, Texas. Gerald also liked to fish, camp, and play cards.
In the summer months, he enjoyed mowing and tinkering with his garden tractor.
He was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters, and four brothers.
Survivors include his wife Kathryn; children Barb (John) Shackelford of Florida, Darrell Lawson, Curtis (Teresa) Lawson of Tennessee, Dwight Lawson of Arizona, Rodney (Elizabeth) Lawson of Marshalltown, David (Cherie) Lawson of Colorado, Brenda Lawson of Colorado, Debra Kouba (Mike Ellenbecker) of Tama, Michael (Joan) Kaufman of Chicago, Illinois, and Wesley (Gina) Kaufman of Marion; eighteen grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and two sisters Gertrude Cunningham of Des Moines and Lucille (James) Holvey of Ft. Madison.