Lambert L. Lasecki

MADISON - Lambert "Lon" Lasecki passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2020, from cancer. Lon was born in a rural farm home in the unincorporated community of Hofa Park, Town of Maple Grove, Shawano County, Wis. to Michael and Anna (Janiga) Lasecki on June 9, 1932. Lon attended Laney Grade School and graduated from Pulaski High School in 1950, where he excelled at math and participated in sports and extra-curricular activities. After graduation from high school, he worked on the family farm and held part-time jobs working for the railroad, Asplundh Tree Expert Company and as a sales rep for a Wisconsin seed company. In 1953, Lon volunteered for the draft. He completed basic training at Camp Chaffee, Ark. and in January of 1954 he was shipped to post-war Korea, where he was assigned to Fire Direction Control to use his mathematical skills. He returned from Korea in May of 1955, and again started work on the family farm. He decided to use the education assistance offered by the GI Bill and applied and was accepted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He obtained Bachelor of Science degrees from the UW-Madison in Agriculture in June 1960 and Mechanical Engineering in January 1961. While at the UW-Madison, Lon met a young lady, Elaine Grace Yodice, from the Bronx, N.Y.; she was studying for a Masters in Mathematics. Finding a common bond over math, Lon and Elaine married in the Bronx, N.Y. on Aug. 30, 1958. They had four children, Mary Therese, Barbara Ann, Martin Thomas and Jean Paulette, and seven grandchildren, Emily, Nicole, Jeffrey, Frances, Justin, Lucy and Danielle. All four children went on to graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In 1967 Lon started working for Marshall Erdman and Associates as a mechanical engineer, specializing in HVAC design. While at Erdman, Lon obtained his professional engineering license and was a member of the National Council of Engineering Examiners until his retirement in April 2002. After six months of retirement Lon started working part-time at Woods Hollow Children's Center in Fitchburg, Wis. as the Center's maintenance technician. He retired from Woods Hollow in October 2011, having spent nine years enjoying the sounds of children's laughter and curiosity, which he loved. Lon was a "Mr. Fix-It" type of person, acquiring a wide variety of skills on the farm that served him throughout his life. He could repair almost anything, doing most of the maintenance work on the family home and autos (until cars became technology on wheels). Some of the fondest memories of family life are the homemade Christmas presents, and spending vacations and weekends enjoying Wisconsin's abundant natural resources (parks, fishing, camping). He enjoyed skiing in the Colorado Rockies and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. He loved gardening and made wine from the backyard garden's grapes and raspberries; he also dabbled as a brewer for a time. He was adept at household chores, sewing and cooking--he took up the domestic side of manliness decades before it started moving mainstream. Lon famously had pie and ice cream for breakfast, and his seven grandchildren loved his homemade apple and blueberry pies. By far, though, his most enjoyable activity was dancing--ballroom dancing and old-time dancing, especially polkas (Polish hop), waltzes and landlers. While musing about the great and long life he had, his only regret was not dancing more. Lambert is survived by his children and grandchildren; and his sister, Anna Mae (Lasecki) Pruse. He was preceded in death by his wife Elaine; his parents; and four siblings. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson West Funeral & Cremation Care 7435 University Ave (608) 831-6761