Douglas Arthur Lawver

One of a kind!

Doug Lawver lived life to the fullest and served others with humility. He knew no strangers and left a big footprint on this earth. He was a pillar of faith, a mentor, and a father figure for so many. Everywhere he went, he talked with strangers and spread laughter and joy. He was one of a kind, a legend, and God’s incredible gift to those who knew him. He made you feel comfortable and valued. He treated everyone the same and was never concerned about status or titles. He was compassionate and it was a joy for him to serve others.

On November 1st, Douglas Arthur Lawver passed away peacefully surrounded by family after having a stroke at 78 years old. The Celebration of Life is Saturday, November 23rd at 11:00 am at Cross of Glory Baptist Church in Hopkins, followed by a luncheon. Interment will be held at Faith Rutz Lake Cemetery in Waconia at 3:30 pm. All are welcome.

When his family was traveling back home from a trip to South Dakota, Doug was born on December 20, 1945 to Clinton Franklin Lawver and Marien Elizabeth (Just) in Le Mars, Iowa. Marien taught English, and Clinton had a master’s degree in Math and History and was a superintendent. When Doug was 7 years old, his dad died of a heart attack. His mom remarried George Anderson who died when Doug was 12 in a tractor accident. Because of this, Doug spent summers on his uncle’s ranch near Chamberlin, South Dakota. There he was 1 of 13 kids in a 3 bedroom house with no running water. Doug always had a great work ethic. In high school, he worked at a small bakery in Manson starting at 4am each day.

After graduating from high school in 1964, Doug joined the US Army and served in the 9th Division, 3rd of the 5th Cavalry, C Troop, 3rd Platoon for 3 years. He spent 18 months fighting in Vietnam, serving as a tank driver and helicopter gunner, after which he was transferred to the DMZ in South Korea. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Marien enrolled Doug in Fort Dodge Community College and he earned an applied science degree in Food Market Management. While at college, Doug met the love of his life, Nancy Ann Jensen, and they were married on June 7th, 1969. They moved to Hopkins, where Doug studied Baking at Dunwoody Technical College. Doug worked in the Red Owl Bakery for 21 years, and Nancy worked as a bookkeeper for Snyder Drug Stores. Doug and Nancy are charter members of Cross of Glory Church in Hopkins and have served there for the last 55 years.

In 1970, they welcomed their first of five children. Doug traded in his cherished red Malibu SS convertible for a more practical family car, a station wagon. After several years living in a trailer park, they found their six-bedroom dream home in the rural community of Eden Prairie. After the down payment, they only had a nickel left in their bank account. Money was tight, but there was always enough food on the table and clothes for the Minnesota weather. Frequent trips to Sears Surplus on Penn Avenue helped make ends meet. Doug and Nancy served as foster parents for 50 years to hundreds of Hennepin County children. They specialized in taking sibling groups in order to keep them together while they were away from their parents. In the later years, they took children with challenging medical conditions.

Doug had a big heart, an inviting sense of humor (sometimes inappropriate) and a quick ‘hello’ to anyone around him. Doug started conversations with strangers in bank lines, on football fields at Flying Cloud, basketball gyms in Eden Prairie and soccer fields across the Twin Cities, some of whom became close friends. Doug helped start Eden Prairie Girls basketball association and coached some of his children and their friends.

Doug and Nancy took their kids and foster kids on camper trips across the United States, visiting 48 of our 50 states. At first, they traveled with a small trailer, upgraded to a larger Airstream, and then finally bought a motorhome to facilitate taking longer trips. Doug enjoyed boating, biking, waterskiing, fishing, jet skiing, snowmobiling, camping, and traveling. He also enjoyed spending time with his kids, his friend’s kids, and his grandkids at their sporting events and activities. He not only brought his own kids with him wherever he went, he also brought their friends along and paid for everything. He was a genius in the garage, able to fix anything that needed repair. He not only worked on his own cars, but also helped many others with their cars and changed oil for many. After a snow storm, Doug could be found snow blowing driveways up and down the block.

After the Red Owl Bakery closed, Doug worked as an industrial mechanic for Pies, Inc. and then as a maintenance worker for the City of Deephaven. Because of his mechanical skills, he was a valued and needed employee.

Doug enjoyed spending time with his grandkids. He had a special relationship with each one of them, many with nicknames only Douggie could give them. He loved them deeply and was their biggest fan and bragged about all of them.

Doug is survived by his wife Nancy; his children Andrew (Jennifer), Tammy (Andrew), Amy (Richard), Julie (Ian), James (Johnna); his grandchildren Amelia, Gabriel, Megan, Andrew, Zachary, Reylan, Hazel, Roy, Jacob, Jocelyn; his sister Carol Peterson; his sister-in-law Sheri (Clint) Dodd, and his brother-in-laws Marvin Vosberg, Steve Jensen, and Ross Jensen. Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton and Marien, his twin who died in utero, sister Elizabeth Vosberg, brother-in-law Juhl Peterson, foster child Ellen Hicks, and grandson Kyle Jacob.

The amount of love, faith and hope Doug poured into people he knew and touched will never be forgotten by those who know him. He lived a life of service making this dark world a brighter place. Well done, good and faithful servant! He no longer has tired old bones as he has a new heavenly body and is enjoying life chatting it up with everyone in heaven with many jewels in his crown. Until we meet again, . . . love you so much!

memorial service

Celebration of Life for Douglas Lawver

November 23, 2024

Cross of Glory Baptist Church 4600 Shady Oak Rd, Hopkins, MN 55343, USA

Join us for a Celebration of Life and a luncheon after the service.

Interment at Faith Rutz Lake Cemetary in Waconia at 3:30pm.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services