First Posted: 11/21/2007
Laurence J. Theilgard, of Waverly, died Tuesday, Nov. 13, at home after a courageous battle with cancer. His wife is the former Joan Halverson.
Son of the late Niels and Clara Rebecca Erickson Theilgard, he was born and educated in Princeton, N.J.
He served in the Navy as an electronics technician and was honored with the Victory Medal and the American Theater Medal. He was a graduate of Princeton schools and received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Princeton University. He later studied business law and accounting at the University of Michigan. He began his career in the salt industry when he joined International Salt Co. and managed various mines and plants, including locations in Avery Island, LA; Walkins Glen, NY and Detroit.
The highlight of his career was building a solar sea-salt plant on the Dutch island of Bonaire. He spent the final 18 years of his career at company headquarters in Clarks Summit, as vice president of production and engineering. He met his wife, Joan, on a ski trip to St. Anton, Austria.
While living five years on Bonaire, he was involved in local activities, including the Lions Club, where he was a founding member and served as president and as district chair. He was a director of Alkali Ltd., a salt industry organization in Jamaica; a trustee of the Northeastern Philharmonic; president of the Princeton Club of Northeastern Pennsylvania; and a member and vice president of the Scranton Tennis Club. He was also senior warden of the Church of the Epiphany, New Iberia, La.; a member of the Waverly Country Club and served on the boards of Waverly Community House and Church of Epiphany.
Also surviving are a son, John Theilgard, Chapel Hill, N.C; a daughter, Susan Moriearty, Clarks Summit; four grandchildren, Heather Moriearty Smith, Stephanie Moriearty and Nels and Peter Theilgard; three great-grandchildren, Alexandra, Tialynn and Rhianna; and two sisters, Janet Englehart, Silver Spring, Md.; and Carel Fass and husband, Len, Towson, Md. He was also preceded in death by a son, Mark, and a brother, Neil.
The funeral will be Saturday, November 24, at 11 a.m. in the Church of the Epiphany, Church Hill Road, Glenburn; with services by the Rev. Craig C. Sweeney, rector. Internment with graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family in Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, N.J., and Bonaire, Netherland Antilles.
The family will receive relatives and friends Friday November 23, 5 to 8 p.m., at the Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Services, Inc., 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit. Memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice of Lackawanna County, 301 Delaware St., Olyphant; Northeast Region Cancer Institute, 334 Jefferson Ave., 18510; or Waverly Community House, P.O. Box 142, Waverly, 18471. For more information, directions or to send an online condolence, visit .