Lauren’s life began on September 18, 1948, the son of Willard and Lena (Neufeld) Thiessen in Newton, Kansas. He graduated from Berean Academy Class of 1966 and then went on to receive his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Fort Hays State University in 1971. He married the love of his life, Jo Ann (Giebler) Gottschalk on May 8, 1982, in Hays, Kansas.
Lauren retired from Scott Rice Office Interiors as a salesman in 2018. He was a member of Central Christian Church where he taught marriage classes, mentored married couples, and was an elder. He was also a member of Bel Aire Chamber of Commerce. He loved his family especially the grandkids, fishing, golfing, and restoring his 1979 El Camino.
His loving family includes his wife, Jo Ann of the home; sons, Garry Thiessen of Ames, Iowa, Brent Thiessen (Wendy) of Marshalltown, Iowa, Scott Thiessen (Tammy) of Avon, Ohio, Cory Gottschalk of Norman, Oklahoma, Chad Gottschalk (Cassie) of Wichita; daughter, Nicole Thiessen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; sisters and their husbands, Jolyn and Dave Stark of Raymore, Missouri and Lavada and Dan Klinger of Phillipsburg, Kansas; 9 grandchildren and 1 great granddaughter; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Gottschalk. Lauren passed peacefully into his Savior’s arms on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at the age of 73 years old.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at Central Christian Church, 2900 N. Rock Road, Wichita, Kansas. To watch Lauren's service online, please go to https://livestream.com/cccevents/memorials. A private family burial in Emmaus Cemetery, Whitewater, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to the Encourager's Class at www.ccc.org/give or His Helping Hands at www.ccc.org/hishelpinghands or Berean Academy www.bereanwarriors.org/giving or in care of Lamb Funeral Home, P.O. Box 358, Whitewater, Kansas 67154. Please sign his online guest book and leave a memory of Lauren at www.yazelmeglifh.com .