Lawrence, Vandemark Sheerin, MD "Van" (1925 - 2020) died on Saturday, September 26th at home with his wife Nell by his side. He was comfortable and it was a peaceful passing. Van had been living with Alzheimer's Disease for several years and bore it with grace and elegance. He was fading away gently but took a dramatic turn for the worse following a recent fall. He was cared for by Nell and his daughters Gabrielle and Rebecca with wonderful support from Grace Hospice during the past two weeks. Van was a remarkable man, a physician, a father of five and husband to two, an advocate for social justice who marched in Selma, campaigned for Gene McCarthy and was registering people to vote at age 91. He built one of the first geodesic domes in Minnesota, played the flute, made pots and beautiful furniture and acted in community theater. Van was a lover of standard poodles, horses, and the outdoors, especially his beloved Dome on the river in Chisago County. He wrote his own autobiography, "So Far, So Good" when he was 70 to document his family history and leave another legacy for his children. He was a man of deep faith, handsome and charming even in his final days. Van grew up in Slayton, Minnesota, attended Wilson High School in St. Paul and Hamline University before joining the US Army and serving in Europe during WW II in the 70th Infantry Division. He was a proud graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School and enjoyed a successful career as an Anesthesiologist at Minneapolis General, the Mayo Clinic, Mt. Sinai Hospital and the VA Medical Center. Preceded in death by his first wife, Dulcie Lawrence and son Chris Lawrence. Van is survived by his second wife, Nell Hillsley, children Gabrielle Lawrence (Don Postema), Joseph Lawrence (Mike Stanton), Matthew Lawrence and Rebecca Lawrence (Richard Thompson) and Ruu-tian Chang Lawrence, grandchildren Justin Gourlie (Patrick Steber), Sam Lawrence (Catherine Shao), Peter Lawrence (Yuna Lin), Keegan Austin (Nathan Austin) and Thomas Lawrence (Alexandra Cassanova), 4 great grandchildren Max, Margot, Dulcie and Isabelle, stepdaughters Anne Hillsley and Ray Anderson, 6 step grandchildren and 4 step great grandchildren.

Van has donated his body to the University of Minnesota Medical School. There will be a memorial service next summer when we can all gather safely. Memorials suggested to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Published on October 4, 2020