Lawrence Henry Feurer was born in Marion on March 19, 1915 to Walter Feurer and Elisabeth Henrietta Trentleman. When the 1920 federal census was taken, Lawrence’s parents Walter and Elisabeth, were respectively 35 and 39 years of age. Walter was self-employed and then working a wholesale meat business. The only address given in the census was that of a rental home on W. Copeland Street. At the time, Lawrence was 4 years old and had six siblings, Olinda 13, George 12, Carl 10, William 9, Walter 7 and Elizabeth aged 2 months.

Ten years later when the 1930 census was taken, the parental family were living at 503 S. Carbon Street in a home they owned and valued at $2,500. At the time, Walter 46, was working as a county highway commissioner. Elisabeth, now 50, had her hands full with 7 children. The children were Olinda 23, George 22, Carl 20, William 18, Walter 17, Lawrence 15 and Elizabeth 10. Olinda was working as a public school teacher and George was an auto mechanic. The family had a radio in their home at the time.

In 1932, Lawrence graduated from Marion Township High School and one year later went into business with his brothers Walter and George to establish Feurer Brothers Grocery.

On May 2, 1937 he married Carolyn Ruth Fife. Ruth was born in Marion on July 22, 1918 to David Fife and Caroline Riddle.

By the time the 1940 census was taken in April, Lawrence 24 and Ruth 21 had one child, Larry L. aged 1 born in 1939. The couple were living on Illinois route 13 in a home they rented at the rate of $15 per month.

In October of that year, Lawrence went to the Selective Service office at 802 ½ Public Square to register for the WWII draft. He was then 25 years old and listed his place of residence as 503 S. Carbon Street which is where his parents used to live. He listed his occupation as working at Feurer Brothers Grocery located at 113 S. Russell St. He was physically described as 5’ 9”, 180 lbs., with grey eyes, blond hair and a light complexion. Lawrence claimed to be working 50 hour weeks and stated his income was $900 for 1939.

When the 1950 census was taken, Lawrence 35 and Ruth 31 had 3 children, they were Larry Lee 11, Sue Ellen 7 and Paul David aged 5. The couple were still living at 503 S. Carbon Street and Lawrence was working as a retail grocery proprietor.

In 1961, Lawrence announced his retirement from the grocery business and was appointed as Deputy Williamson County Tax Collector under the administrations of Sheriff Dean West and then Carl Miller. He served in that position until 1966.

In 1963, Lawrence ran for city council in the April elections and was elected city commissioner under first term Mayor Robert Butler as streets and public property commissioner until his term was up in 1967. When his term was up as city commissioner, the newly re-elected Mayor Robert Butler handpicked Lawrence to become city treasurer.

Lawrence served as Marion city treasurer under Mayor Robert Butler from 1967 until his death on April 23, 1980 after which he was replaced by Ron Joyner. Feurer passed away of a sudden heart attack after watching a ball game in his home at 503 S. Carbon Street. He was a member of the Zion United Church of Christ in Marion, Marion Elks Lodge No. 800 and the Marion Bowling Association. Lawrence was reported by police officer Roger Rich as “a great man, He was gentle, kind and he never said a bad work about anybody.” Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.

Survivors are his wife: a daughter, Sue Kuestermann of Highland; two sons, Larry Feurer of Marion and Paul “Pete” Feurer of Calgary, Canada; two sisters, Olinda Soehrmann of Lombard and Elixabeth Armstrong of Marion; a brother, Walter Feurer of Marion and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Carl, George and William.

Lawrence’s wife, Ruth, passed away at the age of 63 on October 5, 1981 in Franklin Hospital Skilled Nursing Care Unit in Benton. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery.

(Sources: Federal census records, WWII draft records, Southern Illinoisan, Marion Daily Republican, Marion City street directories, Marion City Cemetery records, Williamson County Marriage records. Compiled by Sam Lattuca on 9/04/2024)