Lawrence Frank Rombs

It is with sorrowful hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Lawrence Frank Rombs on January 31, 2025, at the age of 87 years after a short battle with a difficult-to-diagnose form of lymphoma.

Lawrence was born on July 8, 1937, at home on the family farm at Red Star, AB (south of Fairview) to Frank and Frances (Ressler) Rombs. He was the fifth of seven siblings. He attended schools in the Fairview area, and during high school, he became acquainted with Shirley Starnes.

Lawrence married Shirley (Starnes) Irvine on December 30, 1967, in Kamloops, BC, and soon after they moved back to Fairview where he spent most of his life. He worked at the Cantor Sawmill near Hines Creek for 11 years, and 20 years in the sawmill in Grande Cache, AB.

In his earlier years, he worked at a variety of jobs, including camp cooking for as many as 80 men. His specialties were his homemade pies and all types of desserts. He was an excellent cook, and always enjoyed it as a hobby, along with watching TV game shows, doing crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, and WORDSCAPES on his phone. For years, Lawrence loved to spend time playing the slots in the different casinos, whether travelling to Las Vegas, or locally in Grande Prairie or other locations.

Dancing had always been a huge part of Lawrence and Shirley's lives throughout their many years together. They really loved dressing up in gorgeous matching outfits sewed by Shirley, or dressing up in Halloween costumes, but always dancing- and travelling, and visiting many countries - far too numerous to mention them all. They danced all over the world, on their many trips.

Their retirement years were also spent happily helping grandsons with their farming- driving the combine, working with leaf cutter bees, cattle, and doing lots of fencing. Many, many trips were made to various places for parts, supplies, equipment, and seed. All the grandchildren were taught multiple card games such as No Peeky, Golf, Crib, Dureckels, and others by Grandpa, and they spent hours and hours playing cards.

Lawrence leaves to mourn his wife of 57 years, Shirley, along with five children

- Dr. Bob Irvine (Elaine), Brent Irvine (Marlene), Heather Kerschbaumer (John), Lorin Irvine (Robin), and Dwayne Rombs (Heather), 11 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Theresia Andreasen, his brother Frank Rombs Jr. (Mary), sisters-in-law Mary Rombs and Beattie Rombs, and many other family members.

He was predeceased by his parents, four older brothers - Bill, Joe, Martin, and Henry, daughter-in-law Chris (Tarnowski) Rombs, and numerous other close relatives.

There will be no funeral at Lawrence's request, but a private family burial will be planned for a later date.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all the doctors, nurses, and staff at Edmonton, Grande Prairie, and Fairview hospitals for their excellent care, concern, and compassion during his final journey. Also heartfelt thanks to all the family and friends for their many acts of kindness and to all who spent a lot of very special time during the final months of his illness.

The loss of Lawrence has left a void in all our hearts and we will miss him dearly.

Care entrusted to Peace Valley Funeral Home Fairview (Kristi Heck) 780-835-3306

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