Jerel "Jake" Charles Lawson, from Eagle Lake, MN, at the age of 73, passed away peacefully at his home on Oct. 3, 2026, surrounded by loved ones and the Lord.
Jerel was born in Minneapolis, MN, on May 14, 1953. The son of Kenneth and Margaret (Moore) Lawson, brother to Dana Lawson and Paula Jones and lived the majority of his life in Montgomery, MN. United in marriage to Debra Hansen, May 20, 2017.
Jerel leaves behind his wife Deb, sons Charlie (Tera) Lawson, Chad (Jill) Lawson, and Alex Lawson. Bonus sons and daughter, Nathan (Stephany) Schmitz, Mandy (Tim) Auringer, and Aaron (LesLiegh) Schmitz. Grandchildren: Makayli, Tait, Brody, Carter, Lily, Emmett, Maren (Mitch), Maisey (Dylon), Malia, Wil, ElliAnah, Sophia, and Kade. Great-grandchildren: Barrett, Theodore, Wesley and Luella. Brother Dana (Cindy) Lawson and sister Paula (Bill) Jones, and several nieces and nephew.
Preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Bill Jones.
Jake loved the Lord, and his faith was an important part of his life. Jake and Deb believed God led them to each other and saw their love as a sacred gift held together by God’s grace. They met in 2015, and two years later, they married and blended their families into one.
Jake and Deb bought an RV and spent their honeymoon on a 15-day adventure traveling to Niagara Falls. Jake loved to travel and dreamed of seeing the country, as long as he could stay on the ground - he preferred land travel to flying. He and Deb enjoyed wintering in warmer southern states, traveling from the West Coast to the East Coast.
Jake was a truck driver for 39 years before retiring from Kemps Dairy. He enjoyed camping, fishing, shooting targets, painting, and playing video games. He liked his flannels and hats. And he especially enjoyed spending time with his family and he loved playing with the little ones.
Jake will be remembered for his faith, his love of family, his adventurous spirit, and the many memories he created along the way. We say goodbye to one of God’s own. To the world, he was a beloved husband, brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he was a hard-working truck driver, cherished friend, travel companion, and storyteller. To all who loved him, he was simply everything.
A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Canvas Church, 1400 Madison Ave. Ste 622, Mankato, MN. After the service, a light luncheon will follow. Mankato Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.