Post Messenger Recorder -

Lawrence Robert Lasure of Belleville, Wisconsin, passed away following a stroke on Wednesday, January 6, 2016, at Agrace HospiceCare in Fitchburg, Wisconsin. Larry was born "in a tent" February 9, 1931, in Porterville, California, to Merrill Clarence (M.C.) and Effie Grace Lasure, one of nine children.

Larry's family moved to California during the hard years of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. His family settled in Porterville where he graduated high school in 1949. He shared many stories of growing up in central California, working odd jobs to help the family and being involved in things from the sport of boxing in high school to local community theater. From Porterville, he enlisted and served in the Air Force in the early 1950s, where he was trained as an airplane mechanic.

He met and married Marlene Waelti while stationed at Truax Air Field in Madison, WI. They were married in Belleville, WI, as he finished his enlistment. The young couple then moved to Santa Paula, California. In 1970, the family moved from California to the family dairy farm east of Dayton, Wisconsin.

Larry was a voracious reader, avid patron of the public library, and thoroughly enjoyed tinkering. He spent years working custodial and maintenance jobs at Madison General Hospital, as well for the Belleville School District. For years in retirement he volunteered to deliver Meals on Wheels and volunteered to drive older residents and veterans as a Dane County RSVP driver.

Larry is survived by his wife, Marlene; sons, Steven (Rebecca) of Eau Claire, Timothy (Sharon) of Waukesha, Kenneth (Laurie) of Spring Valley, and Robert (Karen) of Stoughton; as well as his dutiful daughter, Jacque (Michael) Ostby of Argyle, WI. He is also survived by sisters, Frances Bay, Olita Dion, Joyce (Terry) Rounds all of Santa Paula, California, as well as Jean Leach of Oklahoma; and brother, David (Bonnie) Lasure of Twin Falls, Idaho; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He and Marlene have eleven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Grandchildren and "great-grands" always brought a smile to his face.

Larry was preceded in death by his father and mother; as well as siblings, Marvin, James and Phyllis.

Marlene is very appreciative of the personal care and dedication provided by Dr. Roberts and the UW Clinic staff, as well as that of Agrace HospiceCare and the St. Mary's Hospital Stroke Unit.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent to Agrace HospiceCare of the Madison area, St. Mary's Hospital, or the Belleville Public Library.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m., on Monday, January 11, 2016, at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home, 109 Greenway Cross, Belleville, WI, with burial and full military honors in the Belleville Cemetery.

A visitation was held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., on Sunday, January 10, 2016, at the Becker-Beal Funeral Home in Belleville.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.