Lawrence Edward Zuehlke, age 83, of Washington, Iowa, died Monday, September 8, 2014, at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 12, 2014, at the Victory Fellowship Church in Brighton, Iowa with Pastor Larry Black officiating. Visitation will begin noon Thursday, September 11, 2014, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the Brethren Cemetery in Libertyville, Iowa. Memorials have been established for Victory Fellowship Church or Hospice of Washington County. Online condolences may be sent through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Lawrence was born March 21, 1931, near Batavia, Iowa, in Jefferson County, Iowa the son of Edward and Zelma (Wire) Zuehlke. He graduated from Batavia High School in 1949. Lawrence graduated from Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, where he received his Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Music. He later attended the University of Iowa where he was pursuing a degree in Library Science. He was united in marriage to Wanda Frances Oliver on June 12, 1955 at the First Lutheran Church of Fairfield.

After his marriage, he and Wanda moved to Muldraugh, KY. After his discharge from the Army in 1956, Lawrence taught at Wyman, Iowa for one year then moved to Washington, Iowa in June of 1957. He was a school teacher for the Iowa City Community School District retiring in 1986. He taught for many years at Horace Mann Elementary. Lawrence served in the United States Army during the Korean War where he was a Chaplain's Assistant at Ft. Knox, Kentucky.

After their move to Washington, Iowa, the couple were members of the United Presbyterian Church for over 20 years. Lawrence and Wanda assisted in forming Victory Fellowship Church in Brighton, Iowa after encouragement from their son Andrew. He continued to remain an active member of Victory Fellowship Church where he was a church organist for many years and also church Treasurer. He assisted Wanda in running a "ministry of helping others" throughout his life. Lawrence was an avid genealogist. He was a member of the Washington County and Iowa State Genealogical Societies. He enjoyed reading, gardening and playing the organ and piano.

He is survived by daughter, Gloria June Reed and husband Robert of Washington, Iowa; son Francis Edward Zuehlke and wife Stephanie of Des Moines, Iowa; son, Andrew David Zuehlke and wife Holli of Washington, Iowa; three grandsons, Christopher Reed, Isaiah Zuehlke and Benjamin Zuehlke all of Washington, Iowa; and two great-granddaughters, Elliana Rose Reed and Victoria Louise Reed of Bay City, Michigan.

Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wanda in February of 2014; and his infant twin brother, Leonard.