Hilarion "Larry" G. Spaeth

On July 5^th, 2023, Larry completed his journey of 92 years on this earth and made his way to Heaven’s Shore. He was born on May 24, 1931, to Alphonse and Alvina (Knoeck) Spaeth on the family farm in Stratford, Wisconsin. He attended St. Joseph Catholic School and Stratford High School. There he met Rosemary Marzynski. They were married on August 13, 1952, and most recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. This marriage and lifelong commitment to each other resulted in the birth of twelve children.

Larry entered the Army in March of 1952. After basic training he came home to be married and shortly after Larry and Rose drove to Fort Huachuca, AZ where he was assigned to the 71^st Engineer Aviation Battalion (Scarwaf). There they built an airstrip used by the Air Force. In December 1952 he left for Tague, South Korea, where his Battalion also built an airstrip which is still in use today. Larry returned home in November 1953. From the early 1960’s through the mid 2010’s, his Army friends from throughout the Midwest took turns holding reunions. As travel and health became issues for many, Larry, Rose, and Family hosted many reunions, extending invitations to other Korean War vets in Sheboygan County. In 2013, he traveled to Washington DC on the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight with World War II and Korean War veterans.

Once out of the Army, Larry became a licensed cheese maker. In 1954, he was part of the crew making the first vat of cheese which become known as the Cracker Barrel brand for Kraft Foods. He managed several cheese plants over the next 15 years and in 1969 he stayed in the dairy business and began managing a whey processing plant until he retired in 1995. Then his real, fun work began. His retirement jobs included working for the Kohler Golf Courses at Blackwolf Run and driving for Rite Way Transportation. There he met amazing people who became close friends and kept him active. He continued working at Blackwolf Run past his 91^st birthday. Many also know of the fun he had making wine which led to new friends at Christopher Farms.

In the early 1940’s, Larry was able to get WGN from Chicago on his small transistor radio. That’s when he became a lifelong Chicago Cub fan and yes, he passed it on to other generations. Becoming a Bears fan followed shortly after. When Whistling Straights was awarded the 2020 Ryder Cup in 2005, he said his goal was to live long enough to see the Cubs win the World Series and see the Ryder Cup. Darned if both didn’t happen for him.

Larry and Rose were co-managers of the Spaeth Family Softball Team. For 28 years, at least one and at times three Spaeth teams were entered in the Toys for Tots Softball Tournament. Larry was a player/manager in his younger years. His last at bat came when he was 80 years old, and he hit a line drive single to left field. The game was stopped, and the pitcher and umpire autographed the ball. In 2015, the Spaeth Family was inducted into the Sheboygan Softball Hall of Fame—a special event for all.

In their retirement years, Larry and Rose were Arizona snowbirds. Cubs spring training, golf, hikes in the desert, dinner shows, and cookouts with family and friends were regular activities. These Arizona friends came from Sheboygan, across the Midwest, and Canada. All of them couldn’t wait until January rolled around again to meet and share stories and changes since their last visit.

Larry is survived by Rosemary and their twelve children. Allen (Julie), Tom (Mary), Fred (Sue), Dale, Karen (Dave) Pethan, Dave (Kate), Steve (Betsy), Bob, Mary (Gary) Sholten, Patty (Steve) Burgard, Ken, and Greg (Ann). He is also survived by thirty-six Grandchildren and thirty-four Great Grandchildren, siblings Ellen Connor, Gilbert (Lois) Spaeth, and Gerald (Donna) Spaeth, sisters in law Eileen (Roger) Kaiser, Helen Spaeth and many, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by great granddaughter Ella, his parents Al and Alvina, siblings Harold, Lorraine, and Joann McHugh-McCumber, in laws Ray Connor, Keith McHugh, Don McCumber, and Lorraine (Nicolai) Spaeth, mother-in-law Agnes (Knetter) Marzynski/Connor, and fathers-in-law Stanley Marzynski and Joseph Connor.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at 1:00PM at St. Dominic's Catholic Church, 2133 N. 22nd Street, Sheboygan. The family will greet visitors at the CHURCH on Tuesday, from 10:00AM – 1:00PM. Father Jonathon Schmeckel and Father Zach Weber will concelebrate. The committal and military funeral honors, with VFW Post 9156 participating, will take place on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 at 10:00AM at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Kohler.

Larry’s journey to Heaven’s Shore has begun. We await our journey to meet him and all our loved ones, where we shall never part again. Life well lived Dad, GPa, GGPa!!! You taught us how to “Be a Spaeth Today”!

In lieu of flowers, any donations will be split among local charitable organizations in his honor.