The family sadly announces the passing of Lawrence Holbrook, of Fort Frances, Ont., on Sunday, July 19, 2015 at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances with his family by his side.
Lawrence was born in Hanna, Alta. to Ernest and Essie Holbrook. As he grew up, he lived in numerous communities throughout Alberta, including Green Court, Fort Kent, Cold Lake, and Wetaskiwin.
He graduated from Wilfrid Laurie University in Waterloo, Ont. with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Sociology. Following, he went on to Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ont., where he graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work in Individual and Family Counselling.
He worked as an Ontario probation and parole officer and jail social worker for 13 years.
Lawrence served 23 years with the Canadian Regular Army Service Corps. He was a teacher of Administration and English Grammar for nine years at Canadian Forces Base Borden, near Toronto.
He also was a public relations representative for the same base for 10 years and was the executive assistant to Commodore G.C. Edwards, the Base Borden Commanding General, for his final three years in the Army.
Following his marriage on Nov. 5, 1994 to Senja Ranta, Lawrence built two 1923 Model T Ford touring cars from the ground up.
The cruiser could sleep four and travel at speeds of up to 50 km/h.
He had a lifelong interest in writing novels and poetry. He wrote the novels Lake Andrea, Carla’s Wilderness, and Alice Steele, Survivor. All three we based on a theme of survival in the Canadian wilderness, which he himself had profoundly experienced as a young person growing up in Cold Lake, Alta.
Lawrence followed a very active survival exercise program all his life. Mostly it involved jogging, riding a bicycle 10 km every day of the year, and walking one km. For the past 20 years, he did this with his wife, Senja, in Fort Frances.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Senja, of Fort Frances, Ont.; his son, Mark Noal of Waubaushene, Ont.; 3 daughters from easter Ontario; sister, Joyce Luft of Olds, Alta.; and stepson, Brian Funk, and stepdaughter, Cynthia Joy Smith.
As per Lawrence’s wishes, a service for close family and friends will be held at a later date.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to Prostate Cancer Canada, Covenant House or the Canadian Wildlife Foundation c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com
Fort Frances Times
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