LAWRENCE OWEN GAVIN

June 27, 1931 - February 16, 2016

Lawrence Owen Gavin, 84, of Caledonia, MN died Tuesday, February 16, 2016, at Caledonia Care and Rehab Center. Lawrence was born June 27, 1931 to Owen and Anna (Hayes) Gavin in Caledonia, MN. He married the love of his life, Mary Elaine (Reinhart), at St. Patrick's Church in Brownsville, MN on September 18, 1952. Together, along with a strong Catholic faith, they raised their family, built a dairy farm and worked the land they loved. Lawrence was born on the family farm and spent his entire life there until health concerns forced him to move to “town”. He took over the family farm from his father and farmed with a brother John for many years. In 1980, his son, Alan joined him on the farm until his accidental death in 1993. Over the years there many nephews and neighbors, who Lawrence taught the virtue of work ethic, helping with harvesting crops and caring for the livestock. As a dairy farmer, there were not many opportunities for travel, but he and Elaine did have memorable trips to New York City, Pennsylvania, Nashville, and Sarasota. Lawrence is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elaine and five children, David (Jeanette) of Eagan, MN, Daniel (Terri) of Houston, MN, Jean (Jeff )Pitel of De Forest, WI, Connie Devine of West Salem, WI, Theresa (Troy) Kubitz of Houston, MN, daughter-in-law, Laurie (Tom) Peter of Caledonia, MN, sixteen grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren, one brother, Robert of Nazareth, PA, one brother and sister -in-law, Dale and Priscilla Reinhart of La Crosse, WI, sister-in-laws, Patricia Spinner of Plymouth, MN, Carol Gavin and Josephine Gavin of Caledonia, MN and many nieces and nephews. Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Earl (Mae), Mildred (Wally)Hogseth, Helen (Martin) Heinen, Mary (Everest) Burg, Father Harold Gavin, James (Phyllis), Wilfred (Josephine), Joseph and John, two brother-in-laws, Joseph Spinner and Raymond Reinhart, son-in-law Patrick Devine and two sons, Harold and Alan. A Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 20th, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Caledonia, MN with Fr. Pratap Reddy Salibindla officiating. Visitation will be 4 – 7 pm Friday, February 19th at Holy Family Hall behind St. Mary’s Church and one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.