Lawrence "Will" Williams

Lawrence J. “Will” Williams, age 90 of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at the Quiet Oaks Hospice House in St. Augusta, Minnesota.

A private service will be held with Deacon Ernie Kociemba officiating.  Inurnment will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Lawrence Joseph Williams was born August 11, 1931 in Freeport, Minnesota to Peter and Lena (Finken) Williams. He completed his education at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Freeport. Will served in the U.S. Marines during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1960.  He was united in marriage to Janet Anderson on September 15, 1956 at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in South Minneapolis.  Will and Janet made their home in St. Paul while Will was a St. Paul Union Carpenter. He retired in 1993 and the couple moved to Melrose.

He was a member of the St. Paul’s Carpenter’s Union Local 322.  Will enjoyed working with wood and gardening. He owned his own sawmill and milled his own lumber to work with. Will made many unique wood bowls and other items that the entire family can cherish and remember him by.

Survivors include his loving wife of nearly 65 years, Janet Williams of Melrose; children, David Williams of White Bear Lake, Julie (Wayne) Borgstrom of Grand Forks, North Dakota, Richard Williams of Staples, and Patricia (Mark) Pawelski of Stillwater; nine grandchildren, Amanda, Emily, Eric, Sam, Jake, Hannah, Lauren, Cameron, and Celeste; brother, Edmund (Shirley) Williams; and many loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Will was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Nora Ruth Williams; brothers and sisters, Butch Williams, Pete Williams, Fritz Williams, Rose Hanson, Chris Ihrke, and Jerry Williams.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.