A Memorial Mass will be offered for John "Jack" Lawler at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Rochester.  Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

Mr. Lawler died on Friday, October 14, 2011, at his home in Rochester.  Jack's wish was to be cremated.

Jack was born on July 7, 1955 in Rochester to Pat (Shandley) and Bob Lawler.  He attended St. Francis Catholic School where he was an altar boy, Boy Scout, and Post Bulletin carrier.  He graduated from Lourdes High School with the class of 1974.

Jack was a member of Carpenters Local Union 1382 and loved building The Gonda building, Riverside Elementary School and other numerous buildings in Rochester and the Midwest.  He lived his Irish heritage and was deeply saddened by losing his ability to contribute more to this world. Jack received the Carnegie Medal of Honor for saving Deanna Herber from drowning in the Zumbro River at Mayo Park, many years ago.  Jack's earthly voice has been silenced, but his words and kind actions will live on through his children, who he truly loved.  He touched many lives and hearts, and his memory will live forever.

Jack married Nancy Rens of Rochester and they later divorced.  In February of 1983, Jack and Lori Skogen were married and later divorced. They had twins, John and Meghan Lawler, who survive him.  He is also survived by his daughter Ellen Van Kirk-Lawler and her mother Pat Tupper.

Jack truly missed his mom Pat Lawler, his brother Bill, and was deeply saddened by the death of his niece Amy Wentink, among numerous other family members and friends.

He will be deeply missed by his dad, Bob Lawler, Sr. of Rochester, kids John, Meghan and Elle, steps kids Jason Tupper and Jessica Tupper Moore and their families.  He also leaves behind by his brothers Bob (Paula) of Bemidji, Mark and Dave Lawler of northern Minnesota, sisters Patty (Dick) Lohner and Colleen (Ken) White of Colorado, Barb (Bill) Wentink of Rochester, and Mary Lynn (Mike) Marshall of California, his many nieces, nephews and cousins, his lifelong friends and friends of Bill W.

If you would like to send flowers in Jack's memory, please make them sparse and natural, or make a gift to the Dorothy Day house in his memory.

Other memorials can be forwarded to his children through Macken Funeral Home.