Lance Leonard Gambrell  May 21 1984  February 21 2020

Lance Leonard Gambrell May 21 1984 February 21 2020

May 21 1984 February 21 2020
Lance’s Obituary Lance Leonard Gambrell was born on May 21st, 1984 in Eau Claire Wisconsin and passed away at home in Mesilla on February 21st, 2020 following a long battle with brain cancer. Lance loved the outdoors. He earned His Eagle Scout Award from his hometown Troop 30 which bolstered his love of camping and hiking. As a scout he hiked portion of the Iditarod Trail in Alaska and camped at Isle Royal in Lake Michigan. He graduated from High School in Wisconsin and moved with his parents to Las Cruces in 2002 to attend NMSU. As a college student Lance worked at the Fabian Garcia Gardens enjoying gardening and was a common fixture working as Event Staff at the Pan Am Center. Lance loved to talk, and no one was a stranger for long. In 2009 and 2010 Lance spent his summers as a student intern at Fort Pulaski Nation Monument in Savana Georgia, a Civil War Park. Lance graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Public History. In 2011 he was hired as a seasonal Interpretive Ranger at the Grand Canyon and fell in love. He returned for several more half-time stints at the Grand Canyon before becoming a permanent employee in 2016. Lance loved “That big hole” as he affectionally call the Grand Canyon. His passion while there was engaging with the pubic regarding the power of nature and the reintroduction of the California condor. He was known among his colleges as a prankster and never missed a social event, volleyball game or party. Lance was a big fan of the Minnesota Twins and enjoyed watching baseball and basketball. Lance’s life was largely influenced by his battle with brain cancer. At age 13 he had surgery to remove an ependymoma brain tumor. He recovered and resumed a mostly normal teenage life only to have it return 4 years later. In the following years he had numerous radiation treatments and one more brain surgery. In 2019 Lance obtained medical retirement from the Park Service and moved back to Las Cruces. But Lance did not let his battle with brain cancer define him. He was joyful and a jokester. He was fiercely independent. He hiked and camped until he couldn’t. Lance knew his life would be short, so he lived his life to the fullest. And a rule he lived by was “show up, be there” for friends and family. He regularly attended art shows, musical events and poetry readings of his friends. He will be greatly missed. Lance was preceded in death by maternal and paternal grandparents and older brother Brian Gambrell. Lance is survived by his parents Lori Miller and Leonard Gambrell of Mesilla: sister Rochelle Gambrell and niece Olivia Byrd-Gambrell of Savage Minnesota: nephew Carter Tweith of Eau Claire Wisconsin; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins: his National Park Service family and many friends scattered around the country. A celebration of life will be held March 28th at Peace Lutheran Church, 1701 Missouri Ave. Las Cruces, NM at 1:00 pm. Unitarian Universalist Rev. Xolani Kacela will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to The Southwest Environmental Center, 350 E. Molino Blvd. Las Cruces New Mexico 88005, a local non-profit Lance volunteered his time and energy for causes he believed in. Read More

Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lance Leonard Gambrell May 21 1984 February 21 2020.

La Paz-Graham’s Funeral Home

Death notice for the town of: Las Cruces, state: New Mexico

death notice Lance Leonard Gambrell May 21 1984 February 21 2020

obituary notice Lance Leonard Gambrell May 21 1984 February 21 2020

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