Lawrence Deusch

MADISON-Lawrence E. "Larry" Deusch, age 88, died peacefully on Friday, April 29, 2016, in Madison, Wis. He was the youngest of two children, born on Aug. 19, 1927, to Samuel and Ida Deusch of Sterling, Ill. After graduating from Sterling High School, Larry served in the U.S. Army during WWII in Alaska, testing equipment with Task Force Frigid. He then attended the University of Illinois at Champagne-Urbana, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1952. While in college, he married Shirley Ann Stutsman of Rockford, Ill., in 1948. Larry worked as a civil engineer in Rockford and for 25 years at La Crosse Concrete Co., in La Crosse, Wis.; registered as a professional engineer in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida. Drawn to leadership roles, positions he held included President of the Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers Western Chapter, President of the Builders Exchange of La Crosse, Vice President of the Church Council for Alpine Lutheran Church in Rockford, Ill., co-chair for events in the Mississippi Valley Llama Association, and, after retiring and moving to Lakeland, Fla., in 1990, President of the Highland Fairways Golf Club and the Highland Fairways Property Association. He was also a member of the Elks Club, Rotary and American Legion. Larry was an accomplished carpenter, builder and wood worker. He built their home from the ground up in Rockford. His many hobbies included fishing, boating, golfing, building model airplanes and boats, and coin collecting. With Shirley, he enjoyed antiquing, playing bridge, dancing (especially square dancing and the jitterbug), hiking, and traveling. He remained a loyal Bears fan wherever he went. Larry is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Shirley of Madison, Wis.; daughters, Connie (Don) Welch of Monona, Wis., and Karen Deusch of LaGrande, Ore; grandson, Brandon Welch (Tiffany Harwood Beeman); great-granddaughter, Presley of Oak Harbor, Wash.; grandson, Eric Welch of Madison, Wis.; cousin, Betty Huntley of Sterling, Ill.; nieces, Debbra Bonvallet-Bowser (Ross) of St. Augustine, Fla., and Dail Stutsman of Rockford, Ill.; nephew, Jeff Bonvallet (Laurie Fischer-Bonvallet) of Green Bay, Wis.; and other relatives. We extend a special gratitude to late brother-in-law, Gordon Bonvallet, who was like a brother to Larry; to Debbra, who was like a third daughter; and to Sonja (Deusch) Seigel, a distant relative in Germany. We will all miss his spirit of adventure. Per Larry's request the memorial service will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be sent to Christ Lutheran Church, 2715 Lakeland Hills Blvd, Lakeland, FL 33805. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420