PAUL ANDREW LANCE
Oct. 1, 1953 - Jan. 24, 2025
Paul Lance
The Rev. Dr. Paul Lance of Long Beach, California, ended his journey on earth on Jan. 24 from a recurrence of brain cancer. He was born in Orange, California, to Leslie and Doris (Fowler) Lance and is survived by his wife, Patricia, brothers Ronald (Linda), Ralph (Kathi), and Schuyler “Sky,” sister Leslie “Lee,” and sister-in-law Adrienne Reeves.
Paul grew up in Cadillac and Alpena. He graduated from Alpena High School in 1971, spent 14 months as an exchange student in Germany, and graduated from Alpena Community College in 1974. He earned a Master and a Doctorate degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Paul had a brilliant mind and endless curiosity. He loved music, books, and travel. He was an Army veteran and was stationed in Atlanta, GA, and Stuttgart, Germany.
Paul served as pastor of churches in Zurich, Switzerland, Dowagiac and Alpena, Michigan, Long Beach and Torrance, California, and as a campus minister at California State University Long Beach, and retired from First Congregational Church Alpena in 2020.
A memorial service was held on Feb. 14 at Seaside Community United Church of Christ, in Torrance, CA.
An inurnment service will take place at First Congregational Church of Alpena on Tuesday, May 20 at 2 p.m.
Memorial gifts may be given to Northeast Michigan Trap, Neuter, Return, P.O. Box 101, Alpena, MI