Lawrence Bates

Lawrence "Max" Bates, 80, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 6, 2017.

Lawrence Maxwell Bates was born July 17, 1936, in Tecumseh, Nebraska, to Lawrence Maxwell and Juanita Fern (Foster) Bates. He was raised in Elk Creek and Ogallala, Nebraska. The family moved back to Elk Creek and Max graduated from high school there in 1953.

On April 7, 1956, Max married Dorothy Joan Chambers at the Ames Avenue Methodist Church in Omaha, NE.

Max had been employed by Crane Company, US Supply Company and Ferguson Enterprises. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Nishna Hills Golf Club and the Elks Lodge #445, where he worked his way up to be Exalted Ruler.

Some of Max's favorite activities were; fishing (especially in Minnesota), golfing, coffee group, reading and watching westerns, watching the Huskers and the Cubs, and making people laugh. Max thoroughly enjoyed when all the family would get together at their home. Max liked telling jokes, talking sports, playing cribbage and card games with his friends and family. All of Max's grandchildren had a special name for their Grandpa, they all knew and loved him as "Panca".

Those preceding Max in death are his parents; his parents-in-law, Lee and Dora Chambers; his sister, Gail Looney; and brother-in-law, Mert Norton.

Surviving Max is his wife, Dorothy Bates of Atlantic; his children, Sherri Renee Schlueter, J. Michael Bates of Omaha, NE and Jeffrey Lee (Susan) Bates of Papillion, NE; grandchildren, Tarrah (Dan) Mueller of Chanhassen, MN, Jarrod Schlueter of Adel, IA, Aaron (Michelle) Bates of Omaha, NE, Randalynn (fiancé Damar Gibbs) Bates of Omaha, NE, Anthony Bates of Papillion, NE, Alexandrea (fiancé Richard Ashley) Bates of LaVista, NE; 4 great-grandchildren, Isaiah and Adam Mueller; Jaidyn Bates and Jace Gibbs; sister, Betty Norton of Grand Island, NE; brothers-in-law, George (Kay) Looney of Arthur, NE and Don (Pat) Chambers of Ollie, IA; sister-in-law, Josephine Chamber of Packwood, IA; other close relatives and many friends.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 12, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic, Iowa.

A celebration of his life will take place at a luncheon in the fellowship hall of the church following the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers please make all memorials to the Bates family. They will then be donated to Max's favorite organizations.