Joseph A. Lawrence Jr.

Surrounded by his loving family, Joseph A. Lawrence Jr., age 91, passed away Friday, November 9, 2012, at his residence.  Joe was born in Racine on January 10, 1921, son of the late Joseph A. and Helen (Nee:  Drummond) Lawrence, Sr.

Joe graduated from Washington Park High School “Class of 1939” and with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from UW-Madison in 1943, where he was also a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.  During World War II, he proudly served in the United States Marine Corps.  In 1943 Joe joined his father in the clothing business. He owned and operated, Jos. Lawrence, Inc., on Monument Square from 1965-1991, until his retirement at 70 years of age.

On March 8, 1947, he was united in marriage to Cynthia “Cynie” A. Hood at St. John’s Chapel DeKoven.  He was a member of St. John’s Divine in Burlington.  Joseph served in numerous community organizations including: President of the Racine American Red Cross, Racine Chamber of Commerce, 13 years as a board member for the First Wisconsin Bank, and President of the Racine Downtown Association.  He was named to the Wisconsin Apparel Club’s Merchant Hall of Fame. A sailor at heart, Joe also enjoyed downhill skiing, golfing, and the twenty-plus winters he and Cynie spent in Tucson, AZ.  During his youth, Joe spent summers on Brown’s Lake and he and Cynie lived on the lake for over 30 years, where he was affectionately known as “The Mayor of Brown’s Lake.”  More than anything, he cherished time spent with his family and they will miss him dearly.

Survivors include his loving wife of sixty-five years, Cynie; his children, Joseph Lawrence (Bonnie Bellehumeur) of Milwaukee, Lynn (Robert) Snyder of Tucson, Patricia (Robert) Sullivan of Burlington, Marc (Lilly) Lawrence of Kenosha; his grandchildren, Lisa (Steve) Thomas, Kimberly (Mark) Holman, Erin (Brian) Beres, Carlin (Nick) Arnold, Kristen Snyder, Lindsay (Kyle) Wormser, Megan (Josh) Goodman, Patrick (Sarah) Sullivan, Anne (Adam) Reesman, Mark Sullivan, Tim Sullivan, Kevin Lawrence, Brooke Lawrence; sixteen great-grandchildren, and many dear friends, including the Thursday morning breakfast club at Cliff’s Boathouse.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his sisters, Helen (Dr. Gilbert) Wildman, Judy (Dale) May, Josephine (Harold) Brown; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marion and J. Vincent Hood; daughter-in-law, Barbara Lawrence; and great-grandson, Kevin Thomas.

A Memorial Service will be held at St. John’s Chapel, DeKoven Center, 600 21st Street, on Tuesday, November 13, 2012, at 11:30 a.m.  Visitation from 10 a.m. until time of service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to The Hospice Alliance, Inc. or St. John the Divine Church, Burlington.

The family wishes to thank Stefan Anguelov, Kathy Ackerman, Katy Plebanek, and Cheyrill Cartwright, the Kenosha Visiting Nurses Association, and Hospice Alliance for their loving and supportive care.

MARESH-MEREDITH & ACKLAM FUNERAL HOME
803 Main St., Racine (262) 634-7888