Fennimore - Lawton Albert Alderson, age 87, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at the Fennimore Good Samaritan Center.
The only child of William and Ethel (Hunter) Alderson, Lawton was born at the Iowa County Hospital in Dodgeville, WI on November 11, 1929. He spent his youth on the family farm in the Mt. Hope/Mt. Ida area, attending school at Irish Ridge and Mt. Hope.
On February 28, 1949, Lawton married Lorraine Frances Yanna of Castle Rock Township, WI at St. John’s Nepomuc Catholic Church, Castle Rock Ridge. From this union, 11 children were born: Linda (Eldon) Washburn, LaVon (Robert) Broihahn, Larry (Diane) Alderson, Loretta Alderson, Loren (Teresa) Alderson, Leone Alderson, LeeAnn (Alan) Wagner, Laura (David) Anderson, Leonard Alderson, Lisa Bollant, and Lynn (David) Holzinger.
Since marriage, Lawton and Lorraine farmed in the surrounding Fennimore area. In addition to farming, Lawton also hauled canned milk for Carl and Steve Bahl at the Fennimore Cheese Factory (12 years), and drove cement, sand and gravel trucks for Concrete Products and Kowalski-Kieler (13 years). 1997 marked a well-deserved retirement from farming, with the couple continuing to reside on their beloved farm on County Trunk T in Marion Township until their move to Fennimore in 2011.
Lawton loved his Lord and Savior and often commented on how “blessed and fortunate” his family was; never taking any of it for granted. He was a long-time member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fennimore.
Lawton was happiest in life with Lorraine at his side; enjoying the love and laughter of family, pride in his farm and fields, listening to classic country music, a good dance band, pulling old-fashioned pranks along with reminiscing of his escapades from the early days, hitching up his team of Belgian draft horses, traveling down the back roads in either his pick-up truck or on his bright red 1950 Farmall H tractor - stopping along the way for chance visits with friends and neighbors, telephone chats with his pals, and of course chocolate cake, Schwan’s ice cream, and pie of any sort – all in no particular order.
In addition to his 11 children, their spouses and significant others Amy Phillips, Jim McDevitt and Jerome Gilles, Lawton is survived by 16 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; sister-in-laws Marcella Delkamp, June Yanna and Alice Yanna, along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Lorraine of 67 years on August 15, 2016, his parents; his father and mother-in-law John and Nora (Nowak) Yanna, and brothers- and sisters-in-law: Dorothy and Robert Minter, Eleanor and Bernard Whitish, Gertrude and Lyle Weichmann, Hank and Helen Yanna, John Yanna Jr., Arnold Yanna, infant Mary Alice Yanna, and William Delkamp.
The family would like to thank Betty Muhs (caregiver), the Grant County Hospice Nurses, along with the staff at the Fennimore Good Samaritan Center for their attentive care. As well as the spiritual comfort and support provided by Father Miguel Galvez and Father Tom Kelley.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, February 24, 2017 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Fennimore with burial to follow in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 til 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, February 23, 2017 at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore. Online condolences may be made at larsonfuneralhomes.com.
The family is comforted knowing Dad and Mom will once again be “Waltzing Across Texas in Each Other’s Arms” on their wedding anniversary February 28th.
Those we love don't go away. They walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near. Still loved, still missed, and forever dear.