Lawton, Robert J. "Bob" Age 70 St Paul Attorney When you read this I will have finished my dance of death with pancreatic cancer, the music of life will have ceased and death will have reared its ugly head and my spirit will have departed to the Great Spirit in the Sky. I was born on August 30, 1950 in Brooklyn, New York and had my final dance on July 20, 2021. I moved to St Paul in 1958 and have resided here since then. I attended St Mark's grade school, St Thomas Academy and graduated from St Thomas College in December 1970. I also attended the University of Minnesota pre-med program for one year and then changed course and attended Hamline University School of Law, graduating in December 1976. I started my career as an attorney partnering with my brother Jim. Two years later I began a solo practice working until death reared its ugly head. My practice concentrated on family law-divorce-custody and on juvenile law representing parents in Child Protection and Termination of Parental Rights litigation. My life was truly enriched by the many diverse people and situations I encountered on a daily basis. I worked with numerous judges and referees in my 43 years of practice, seeing some of the best and most competent and some who were so incompetent I could not believe how he or she could have ever been appointed. I have had the opport-unity to work with many wonderful and caring County Attorneys and their staff, particularly in the area of Child Protection, as well as many Guardian Ad Litems, any attorney advocating for children, and truly dedicated child protection workers. Many of these people became friends for life. I always tried to enjoy each and every day of my life. I loved the outdoors and spent many wonderful summer vacations in Vail, Lake Namakagon, the Black Hills, the Badlands, Lacrosse and Trempealeau. I spent a lot of exciting times on my mountain bike, hiking and canoeing, in these locations and others too lengthy to list. I enjoyed pushing myself physically and participated in numerous running races, mountain bike races and triathlons. I feel I enjoyed life to the fullest and was blessed by my loving relationship with my wife Roxann who was my lover and best friend for the last 20 years. We were as close to each other as any two human beings can be, and my greatest regret in leaving this world is that for a while we will be apart. All of the sunrises, sunsets and full moons I spent with her were astounding. Each day I spent with her was a precious gift. I am preceded in death by my brother, James Lawton III and survived by my dear wife, Roxann Cunningham, my former wife, Barbara Lawton, wonderful mother of our three children, Kelly Lawton Rogosheske, Robert Jr. (Lindsay) of Hamden, CT, and Corey, as well as six precious grandchildren, Vincent, Lucas and Annabel Rogosheske, Grady, Miriam and Audrey Lawton, and my step-son Preston Cunningham. Also survived by sister, Jeanne Ward (Charlie) of Jacksonville, FL, brother Dr. John Lawton (Mary Jo) of Green Bay, WI, seven nieces, one nephew, and numerous loving friends and acquaintances who all know who you are. I will miss the camaraderie from all the Halloween, Epiphany, Kentucky Derby, Fourth of July gatherings and so many other special occasions. I have now departed to an unknown destination and all of my questions about what happens after death will now have been answered. What more can I ask? A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, August, 13 from 4:00-8:00pm at Summit Manor, 275 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.