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Larry Jay Collison, 82, died Saturday, June 4, 2011, in Eau Claire.
Larry was born May 4, 1929, in Brookings, South Dakota, to Henry and Esther Newstrom
Collison. He graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1947.
Larry married Lucienne Hotchkiss on May 16, 1953, and they spent the next 47 years forever at one another’s side, until Lucie’s death in 2001. Larry and Lucie had three daughters together – Linda (Mike) Sigman of Appleton, Lea Ann (John) Richie of Eau Claire, and Lori (Dan) Mathias of Cedarburg.
Larry began his early career at Dolly Madison working with computers. He then spent 23 years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire as the Operation Manager of the Administrative Computing Department. |
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Larry was a life-long member of the Mehara Shrine Club. He truly believed in and dedicated decades of his life to the Shriner mission of providing free orthopedic and burn care to children, without regard to family finances. Never a trained musician, Larry taught himself to play the drum so he and the ZOR Shrine Drum Corp. could travel the Midwest marching in hundreds of parades to raise funds for the Shriner Hospitals.
He was baptized, confirmed and married at Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. For years he helped welcome people to the church through ushering, serving on many church boards, and joining in the Saturday soup, sandwich and scripture meetings.
After he retired from full-time employment Larry continued to find ways to serve the community. He volunteered his time as 1st lieutenant in the Civil Air Patrol, and joined the Step Force volunteers at Luther Midelfort.
Larry will forever be remembered as person whose glass was half full. Even as his health failed him, Larry always was looking forward to a sunny tomorrow.
Larry is survived and missed by his daughters and his eight grandchildren, Eric and Sara Sigman, Abby, Emma, Claire, and Jack Richie, and Natalie and Allison Mathias. He will also be missed by his special friends from card club, a group that stayed together for over 50 years.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lucie; his brother, Gerry; and his granddaughter, Chloe Richie.
Funeral services will be will be Monday, June 13, 2011 at 5 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church (1314 E. Lexington Blvd., Eau Claire, WI 54701) with Pastor Heather Wigdahl officiating. Visitation will be at the church one hour before the service.
Burial will be at Lake View Cemetery at 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday.
To send the family on-line condolences, please visit www.fullerspeckienhulke.com.
Fuller-Speckien-Hulke Funeral Home (3209 Rudolph Rd., Eau Claire, WI 54701) is assisting the family with arrangements.
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