Larry M Okray

MADISON-Larry Okray of Madison, Wis./Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, at age 79. He was born on August 28, 1938 in Stevens Point, Wis., to John and Irene (Schulz) Okray.  Larry graduated from University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  He also attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and University of Miami.  Larry served in the 32nd Division of the Wisconsin National Guard Artillery in Fort Lewis, Wash., as a medic in 1961 when President John F. Kennedy called up the unit to serve the Berlin Wall crisis.  Larry had many successful careers in marketing and sales.  Growing up on the potato fields of Okray Family Farms, in Stevens Point, he worked for his father and uncle.  After college and the National Guard, Larry started Okray’s Ltd., the first potato processing company in Wisconsin making hash brown potatoes.  It was eventually sold to Sentry Insurance.  Larry also worked for Pillsbury Company in Minneapolis and enjoyed a two year stint on Prince Edward Island as Potato Marketing Manager for all of Canada (1975-1977).  The pinnacle of his professional career was as a sales executive for Apple Computer (1984-1990).  He won many awards for sales excellence.  Before retiring he owned Quick Sign in Madison, and grew that business to serve real estate, building construction, and many other businesses in Madison.  Larry was the ultimate entrepreneur.  Larry married Sue Gease in 1965 and had 4 children, Larry Jr., Todd, Sarah, and Paul.  He had many happy memories with family vacations and adventures.  Larry married Jill Moyer in 1993.  Jill was an Executive Vice President with Merrill Lynch and her children, Laura and Matthew, became part of his family.  Jill and Larry retired in 2002 and spent winters in Punta Gorda, Fla., where they have many friends and have had good times boating and traveling.  All his life he enjoyed hunting and fishing.  Larry hunted for deer in Stevens Point and North Dakota.  His favorite fishing holes were numerous Wisconsin waters, Lake Michigan, and Punta Gorda, Fla.  Over the years he owned and operated many boats and built three from scratch: a Nutshell Pram, a duck boat, and a refurbished Alcoa antique boat. With his wife, Jill, they cruised all over Wisconsin in such lakes as Lake Winnebago, Bayfield, Door County, Lake Michigan, and the Madison lakes.  During retirement, Larry and Jill spent six months each winter in Punta Gorda where they were active in the Seafarers Boat Club.  In Punta Gorda they cruised Charlotte Harbor and various marinas in the area.   Larry also enjoyed golfing with his good buddies in Madison and Punta Gorda.  He was a consummate gardener, growing and canning vegetables from his home garden in Madison.  Larry loved cooking, especially trying new recipes.   Larry is survived by his wife, Jill; children, Larry, Jr. (Sue) of Random Lake, Todd (Becky) of Stevens Point, Sarah (Mike) Santas of Pardeeville, Paul (Amy) Okray of Marinette and their mother, Sue Okray; his children by marriage, Laura (Eduardo) Morales of Novato, Calif., Matthew Moyer of Madison; grandchildren, Nicholas and Cody Santas, Marcel and Luis Morales, Kyle and Kassidy Okray; siblings, Jeanette (Don) Omernick of Stevens Point, Mike (Mary) Okray of Stevens Point, Marlene (Tom) Ness of Stevens Point, Tony (Bethany) Okray of Ohio; brother-in-law, Larry (Jan) Holden of Punta Gorda, Fla.  Larry was preceded in death by his parents; and mother-in-law, Ruth Holden.   A Memorial Service will be held at ST. ANDREW EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1833 Regent St., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017 with a celebration of Larry’s life to follow at the GREAT DANE BREW PUB, 123 E. Doty St., Madison.   Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson WestFuneral & Cremation Care 7435 University Avenue (608)831-6761