Officials with the Iowa National Guard say funeral services have been scheduled for retired Maj. Gen. Warren G. “Bud” Lawson of Ankeny, the 26th Adjutant General of Iowa, who passed away on Wednesday, August 10th, at the age of 83. The visitation for Gen. Lawson will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 3-7 p.m. at the Camp Dodge Pool Pavilion, 7105 NW 70th Ave., Johnston, Iowa. The Lawson family will be present during that time.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Camp Dodge Pool Pavilion, followed by inurnment at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter at 2 p.m. The Iowa National Guard will provide full military honors. In case of inclement weather, the funeral service will be held at the Camp Dodge Freedom Center drill hall.

As part of the celebration of his life, the family encourages a tailgating atmosphere to honor Gen. Lawson’s love for the University of Iowa and his Hawkeye football career. Participants are encouraged to wear black and gold, or the colors of their favorite team. Participants may enter Camp Dodge through the main gate at 7105 NW 70th Ave., Johnston. Photo identification (a driver’s license or military ID card are acceptable) is required for admittance to Camp Dodge for individuals 16 years of age and older.

ALL motorcyclists (drivers and passengers) on Camp Dodge are required by Department of Defense policy to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) consisting of helmet, eye protection (full-face shield or goggles or sunglasses), gloves, long pants, long-sleeved shirt or jacket, and over-the-ankle footwear while operating on Camp Dodge.

Lawson retired as the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard on June 19, 1999, following more than 44 years of military service in the U.S. Army and Iowa National Guard, including 14 years as the Adjutant General of Iowa. As Iowa’s Adjutant General, he was responsible for the administration, training, and operations of more than 9,500 Iowa National Guard Soldiers and Airmen.

Officials say he effectively guided the Iowa National Guard through the Iowa Farm Crisis in the 1980s, the response for the crash of United Airlines Flight 232 at the Sioux City Airport (1989), Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm (1990-91), reactivation of the 34th Infantry Division (1991), floods of 1993, and the Port Neal complex chemical plant explosion near Sioux City (1994). He was succeeded by Maj. Gen. Ron Dardis in 1999.While at Iowa, Lawson played center for the Hawkeyes football team (1952-54), and was named Iowa’s Most Valuable Player in 1954.

In 1967, he deployed to the Republic of Vietnam, where he served with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade as assistant operations officer and personnel officer.

Lawson is survived by his wife, Bobbie and their daughter, Laurie. He was preceded in death by his son, Lance. The family respectfully requests no flowers, food or gifts, please. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Iowa at http://www.alz.org/greateriowa/ .

For additional information, go to http://www.dignitymemorial.com/ankeny-funeral-home-and-crematory/en-us/index.page.