William Lawson

William L. Lawson, age 83 years of Niles, Michigan died at 12:05 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, 2015 at Lakeland Hospital – Niles unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

He was born on March 17, 1932 in Kokomo, Indiana to Lawrence and Mabel (Orr) Lawson. He was graduated from Kokomo High School, and earned a Bachelor degree in Business from Indiana University at Bloomington where he also completed the U. S. Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. He served as a First Lieutenant, and was discharged as a Veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Following his military service, he was employed as a national account sales manager representing the leading corrugated paper companies including St. Joe Paper Company of Hartford City, Indiana and Willamette Industries of Elk Grove, Illinois. In 1996, upon retirement he retired to Barron Lake in Niles and Bonita Springs, Florida.

Bill was a member of Saint Mark Catholic Church in Niles and Our Lady of Light Catholic Community in Fort Myers, Florida. He was also a member of the Barron Lake Association in Niles and the Shadow Wood Country Club in Bonita Springs. He has continued his membership in the Kappa Delta Rho collegiate fraternity, and was an active participant at the Niles Senior Center. He enjoyed golfing, and was a loyal fan of many teams including The Cubs, The Bears, and IU – especially during Bobby Knight’s years.

He was first married to Martha Thomas. Later, on August 28, 1982 in Indianapolis, Indiana he married the former Leila M. (Baranyai) Brauer who survives. Also surviving are his children, Matthew A. (& Jane) Lawson of Tampa, Florida, Lynda A. (& Bill) Barrett of Cary, Illinois, and Susan L. (& Mark) Scheldrup of Arlington Heights, Illinois; Leila’s children, Karl D. (& Carol) Brauer of Cape Coral, Florida, Kurt A. Brauer of Niles, Kim M. (& Rick) Goss of Fishers, Indiana, and Kent W. Brauer of Fort Worth, Texas; grandchildren – to whom he was Grandpa Bear – Douglas C. (& Heather) Brauer, Jill M. (& Braxton) Rhone, Elizabeth A. Brauer, Daniel O., Matthew T. and Anna L. Scheldrup, Michael L. and Jason A. Barrett, Ryan M. Lawson, Andrew J. and Evan D. Goss, Amanda L. Brauer, and Alyssa A. (& John) Frame; and great-grandchildren Barron, Brynn, Michael, Gabriel, and Micah.

The Memorial Mass for William L. Lawson will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 22, 2015 at Saint Mark Catholic Church by the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C. assisted by Brother Dennis Meyers, C.S.C. Immediately following the Mass, the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” will be offered outside the church entry.

Visitation will also be on Monday, beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to Saint Mark Catholic Church, 3 North 19th Street, Niles, Michigan 49120, or to the Niles Senior Center, 1109 Bell Road, Niles, MI 49120.

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