- Date Of Birth: September 22, 1920
- Date Of Death: March 31, 2012
- State: Nebraska
Lawrence Albert Dittmar was born at home in rural Custer County near Oconto, in an area formerly known as Buffalo, on September 22, 1920, he was the first of two sons born to Albert and Anna (Schroeder) Dittmar. He was baptized on October 17, 1920 at Christ Lutheran Church near Oconto. He was later confirmed at Buffalo’s First Evangelical Lutheran Church on April 14, 1935. He graduated as Valedictorian of Oconto High School on May 24, 1939. Lawrence always wanted to be a teacher and after much convincing to his parents he started his college education at Kearney State College in Nebraska. He attended college there for one semester and then transferred to his real first choice Concordia Teacher’s College in Seward, Nebraska where he was in the first A Cappella Choir. Lawrence graduated with a teaching degree in 1942 and a second time from Concordia in 1954. He earned his Masters of Education degree from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1959. Lawrence was in the Occupational Service in the Army and served as a Chaplains Assistant in Japan from 1946 to 1948. He held his first teaching job at Zion Lutheran in Leigh, Nebraska in 1942. On June 1, 1949, he married Elva May Brown at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Leigh, Nebraska. They made their first home in Lexington, Nebraska where Lawrence served as a teacher at Trinity Lutheran. They had three children David Lawrence, Pastor in St. Louis, Mo., Gary Dean, Principal and Teacher in Cleveland, Ohio, and Rhonda Rene’ Stokebrand, Social Worker, residing in Exeter, NE. His teaching career took him to St. Paul’s in Stover, Missouri, Trinity in Altenburg, Missouri, Berthoud Public in Berthoud, Colorado, where he served as the principal, Christ in Denver, where he also served as principal, Redeemer in Denver, and Rising City Public in Rising City, Nebraska where he retired from 42 years of teaching in 1986. Through the years and various congregations Lawrence served as organist, choir director, Sunday School teacher, Bible Class instructor, Youth Group Director, member of Stephen’s Ministry, and being a faithful servant in many other capacities. The Dittmar’s made their home in Seward, Nebraska in 1969 and never left. Their lives were always God and family. Lawrence and Elva were volunteers for more than 50 years in both Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts. He was awarded the highest volunteer award in both organizations the Silver Beaver for his dedication to the Boy Scouts and the Thanks Badge for his involvement in Girl Scouts. He was a 25 year member of the Lions Club International and served as a delegate to seven of the organizations International Conventions and to 13 of their North American Forms. In this organization too, he was also awarded their highest honor, the Melvin Jones Award. His hobbies were his family, gardening, reading, and traveling. Lawrence and Elva had driven to all 48 of the continental United States. His little Honda was never parked in the driveway for very long. Lawrence Albert Dittmar 91, died March 31, 2012, at Seward Memorial Hospital in Seward. Preceding Lawrence in death was his wife of 60 years, Elva, his parents Albert and Anna Dittmar, his brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws, Merle Brown, Irene and Art Vercruysse, Ruby and Vic Schultze, Alan Christiansen, Dorothy Brown, and Elaine Brown. Survivors include his sons and daughter-in-laws David and Arlene Dittmar and Gary and Emma Dittmar, daughter and son-in-law Rhonda and Mark Stokebrand; grandchildren, Cameo (Kevin) Wolf, Cantrell (Dennis) Harrison, Carson Stokebrand, Carly Stokebrand, Andrew Dittmar, Mark (Becky) Galinat, Kim Galinat, and Joseph (Jennifer) Dittmar. Great-grandchildren, Cammie Ann Harrison, Devin Lee Harrison, Parker Brody Wolf, Jacob Walter Galinat, and Jackson Gregory Galinat. Brother Alvin Dittmar, Lexington; brothers and sister-in-laws Melvin Brown, Columbia Heights, Minnesota; Howard Brown, Omaha; Harold and Joan Brown, Lexington; Gladys Christiansen, Madison; Adeline Brown, Leigh; nieces and nephews.
