Oachs and Ward Family Website

1. LAWRENCE CHAUNEY⁴ OACHS (WILLIAM³, PETER CHARLES² OCHS, PETER¹) was born 25 May 1920 in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota, and died 05 Jul 1998 in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota. He married (1) IVONNE DEMAE CROWLEY 29 Aug 1940 in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota. She was born 25 Sep 1919, and died 13 Sep 1982 in Mankato, Blue Earth, Minnesota. He married (2) Helen Kopsicke 12 May 1984.

*Three Living Children.

Newspaper Clipping - 40th Anniversary 1980

Biography

Lawrence Chauney Oachs was born in Sterling Township, Minnesota. He was the eighth child of sixteen children born to William and Minnie (Ward) Oachs. He lived on the farm in Sterling Township until he was nine years old.  He then moved with his family to the rural Mankato area.

Lawrence began playing the drums in the Kato Kids Band at the age of 13.  After the Kato Kids band quit playing in 1940, Lawrence continued to play the drums for the Mamie Gerlach’s orchestra for 15 years.  He played the drums for the Jolly Acres for over 20 years.

Lawrence married Ivonne DeMae Crowley at St. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Mankato on August 28, 1940. Lawrene and Ivonne had three children.

Lawrence worked for the Continental Can Company in Mankato in May of 1942 until the spring of 1979 when he retired at age 58. Ivonne passed away on September 13, 1982 from cancer.

Wedding Photo 

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Lawrence and Helen ~ 1989