Edward Joseph ‘Joe’ Lawyer, 91, of North Platte, NE, formerly of Sutherland, NE, died Monday, October 6, 2014, at Linden Court.
Joe was born in Sutherland on October 1, 1923, to William Henry and Leela Jane Hunter Lawyer, the youngest of 10 children. He graduated from Sutherland High School in 1941 and worked at the Post Office.
Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1943. He began his training at Ft. Logan, CO and from there he was sent to the Branch Immaterial Training Center (BIRTC) in Little Rock, AR. Six weeks later, Joe was in an Army Specialized Training Program at the University of Kentucky in Lexington before joining with Company C 1252nd Engineer Combat Battalion in Texas. Joe’s unit was sent to New Jersey before shipping out to England for three months. He was in France, Luxembourg, Belgian and Germany, building bridges across Rhine River Crossing. While serving in the European Theater, Joe was in The Battle of the Bulge and received a Purple Heart. He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of Sergeant.
Following his discharge, Joe returned to Sutherland where he was appointed Postmaster at the U.S. Postal Service. He retired from there on January 12, 1979, after 37 ½ years of service.
In June 1957, Joe married Phyllis Jeannette Edwall at North Platte and they made their home in Sutherland. Following their retirements, Phyllis and Joe enjoyed traveling. They moved to North Platte in 2000.
Joe was a member of Sutherland Masonic Lodge #299 AF&AM where he was a Master Mason and Past Master. He also served as Past Worthy Patron of Eastern Star Platte Valley Lodge #305 and was Past President of the Sutherland Chamber of Commerce. Joe was also a member of the Otto V. Johnson Post #208 American Legion and a Life Partner of Telephone Pioneers of America. Phyllis and Joe were members of the First United Methodist Church in North Platte.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of North Platte; many nieces, nephews, and other family; and his friends.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, William and Leela; five brothers, Walter, Leonard, Claude, Roy and David Lawyer; and four sisters, Jessie Swanson, Nellie Franken, Mabel Shepherd and Mae Wever.
Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Friday, October 10, 2014, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Inurnment with military honors and Masonic Rites will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are suggested to the Goodfellows Shoe Fund, First United Methodist Church or the donor’s choice.