Obituary for
Lawrence B. "Laurie" Van Ingen III
Lawrence B. Van Ingen III (Laurie), 63, of Durango, Colorado, passed on Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at Mercy Regional Medical Center after complications from thyroid cancer. He was surrounded by his family and friends, all the while remaining positive and hopeful in the face of increasing health challenges.
Laurie was born April 14, 1953, in New York City to the late Lawrence B. and Evelyn H. Van Ingen. He graduated from Alfred University and received an MS in Geology at the University of Wyoming. Laurie married his college sweetheart, Laurie Noel, in 1977. They had two children before moving abroad with Mobil Oil in 1984. After living in Norway and a posting in Singapore, they settled in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for 25 years.
Laurie was a member of the St. Regis Yacht Club, the Anglers’ Club of New York, and served on the board of Good Hope Plantation as well as several Christian ministries. He was an avid angler, railroad enthusiast, rockhound, skier, and hiker - an outdoorsman at the heart. After retiring to Durango in 2015, Laurie fulfilled his lifelong dream of volunteering as a Rail Ranger for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and was able to share his passion for all things geological with visitors from around the world.
Laurie will be remembered for his kindness, eternal optimism, and unconditional love. He lived a life full of adventure and touched every person he met with his quiet strength, confidence, and solid faith in God.
Laurie is survived by his wife, Laurie, of 40 years; Children: Phil (Suzanne) Van Ingen and Meg (Michael) Fahrenbrook; treasured sisters: Anne Van Ingen (Wes Haynes), Mary Courtemanche (Bob), and Evelyn Fell (John); and two nieces, three nephews, one grandniece, and three granddogs.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to The Mercy Health Foundation in Durango, Co, for their excellence and compassion in caring for Laurie, or to The Hope Lodge Dallas through Baylor Health Care System Foundation.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2016, at All Saints Chapel, The Episcopal School of Dallas, at 1:00 p.m.