David O. Lawrence

David O. Lawrence, 68, of Brush, CO (formerly Champaign) passed away peacefully on June 10, 2026 at UC Health Greeley Hospital in Greeley CO, with his wife by his side.

David O. Lawrence "Dave-O" was born in Topeka Kansas in 1958, the oldest child and only son of Rhea and Dave Lawrence. David is survived by his wife Shelley Lawrence, Brush CO; daughter Theresa Lawrence, Urbana IL; mother Rhea Lawrence, Savoy IL; sister Cherise (David) Lewis, Mahomet IL; sister Susan (Charles) Penny, Roswell GA; sister Dena Lawrence, Savoy IL; nephew Reid (Etienne) Penny, Marietta GA; nephew Blake Penny, Kennesaw GA; and his beloved beagle Pete.

David was preceded in death by his father David B. Lawrence, his paternal grandparents AnnaLou and Donald Lawrence, and his maternal grandparents Josephine and Clyde Lake.

David was a proud graduate of the Class of 1976 at Champaign Centennial High School, Parkland College, and Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science Fire Service Management ("one of the highest rated programs in the country and is accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress").

David retired as an Engineer from the Champaign Fire Department, and as the Program Coordinator of the Fire Service Technology Program at Parkland College where he taught several different courses in that program.

David was a prior Fire Chief at the Carroll Fire Department, and a Certification Specialist for the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. He served in the Illinois National Guard, was a private pilot, and was very active in the Monticello Railroad Museum, where he had great joy playing Santa Claus on the Monticello Polar Express, dying his hair and beard for the part!  David was currently the Chair of the Brush Colorado Historic Preservation Board, attended St. Matthew Catholic Church in Champaign growing up where he was an Altar Boy and was involved in Youth Group. He was currently active in many capacities at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Brush, CO.

David loved genealogy, playing pool and Euchre, and playing the acoustic guitar. It was always David's childhood dream to move to Colorado when he retired, and he found his "perfect" town in Brush Colorado where he loved living and all the new friendships that he made!

David deeply loved his family, his Faith, his Firefighter Family of Brothers, and his massive number of friends in both his hometown of Champaign and his new town of Brush Colorado.

A visitation will be held on Friday June 19, 2026 from 4:00-7:00 pm in Feeney Hall at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 1303 Lincolnshire Dr Champaign, with an Emergency Responder/Firefighter Walk Through at 6:00 pm.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Matthew Catholic Church, Saturday June 20, 2026 at 10:00 am. Burial with Military Honors will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Champaign. A memorial service will be held in Brush Colorado at a future date.

Memorial donations may be made in David's honor to the Champaign Firefighters Benevolent Fund, 1601 Bentbrook Dr, Champaign IL 61822

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