Born on November 5, 1936, to Ben and Theresa (Freese) Ricken, Lawrence graduated from Van Cleve High in 1954 and enlisted in the US Navy that summer, spending 2 years touring the Pacific. He returned to Iowa in 1956 and started farming in the Haverhill area with his father, which he continued for 50 years until his retirement in 2006.

Lawrence found the love of his life in 1959 when he met Marian DeCorte at the famed Forest Park Dance Hall. They were married June 3, 1961, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Brooklyn, IA and just recently celebrated their 60th anniversary.

An active member of Immaculate Conception Church in Haverhill, Lawrence led the building and grounds committee for many years and organized the Volunteer Usher Team. Lawrence was also a founding member and Assistant Fire Chief for the Timber Creek Volunteer Fire Department (now known as the Haverhill Volunteer Fire Department).

An avid Iowa State sports fan, Lawrence enjoyed cheering on the Cyclones football and basketball teams and after his retirement became a proud season ticket holder for the ISU women’s basketball team. Lawrence held memberships with the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Order of Forester’s, the National Farmer’s Organization and the Iowa Farm Bureau.

Lawrence was the second youngest of five siblings and was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Theresa Ricken, sister/brother in law Alice and Roy McBride, sister/brother in law Irene and Bob Warden, brother/sister in law Leo and Gladys Ricken, sister/brother in law Patricia and John Jorgensen.

He is survived by his wife of over sixty years, Marian Ricken; his children: Dave (Lori) Ricken, Dan (Deb) Ricken, Jayne (Dirk) Peterson, Paul (Val) Ricken; his grandchildren: Bailey Ricken, Devon Ricken, Chris Ricken, Noah Ricken, Nicolette Dobson, Melissa Searle, Michail Peterson, and Nicole Peterson and 4 great grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on December 1st at the Immaculate Conception Church in Haverhill. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Immaculate Conception Cemetery. The public is also invited to visitation that will be held at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 30th from 5 pm until 7 pm with a vigil service beginning at 7 pm. For further information or to send Lawrence’s family a condolence, please visit mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

In lieu of flowers, Lawrence’s family is requesting that any donations be directed to St. Francis of Assisi Parish and the Haverhill Volunteer Fire Department in Lawrence’s memory.

Thanks to the staff at the Willows of Marshalltown and the St. Croix Hospice Care for their exceptional love and care.