Lawrence E. "Larry" Portzen 1921-2006

PORTZEN, KASS, GINTER, LIVENS, ELLIS, SCHULTING, HONKAMP, WITTERHOLT, LAING, DEMOSS, SCHROEDER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 7/7/2019 at 12:11:18

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Sunday, May 7, 2006

Lawrence E. "Larry" Portzen, 84, of 1845 Garfield Ave., died Friday, May 5, 2006, at home, surrounded by his loving family.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, where military honors will be accorded by the American Legion, Dubuque Post 6. Friends may call from 2:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Egelhof, Siegert & Casper Westview Funeral Home, 2659 Kennedy Road, where there will be a parish wake service at 2:30 p.m. and a Moose Lodge service at 4 p.m.

Mr. Portzen worked at Flex-steel Industries for 471/2 years and was a supervisor for 36 years, until his retirement in 1986.

He was born on May 19, 1921, near East Dubuque, Ill., son of Egidius and Mary (Kass) Portzen. He married Lucille "Lou" Ginter on April 20, 1948, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Dickeyville, Wis.

He served in World War II, with the 104th unit as a weather observer.

He was a member of Holy Trinity Parish for 60 years, and its Holy Name Society and served as an usher. He also was a member of Moose Lodge 355 and the American Legion, Dubuque Post 6.

He enjoyed bowling, fishing, dancing, playing cards and watching the Cubs. Frequently he would have liked to have been the manager.

Larry was a very kind and understanding man. His greatest love was spending time with his family that truly loved him.

Surviving are his loving wife, of 58 years, Lucille "Lou" Portzen, of Dubuque; two sons, George (Elaine) Portzen and Larry Portzen Jr., both of Dubuque; two daughters, Judy Portzen, of Dubuque, and Kathy Livens, of Arlington, Texas; seven grandchildren, Dawn (Chad) Ellis, Eric (fiance, Mary), Kristy, Andrew, Craig and Becky Portzen, all of Dubuque, and Lindsey (fianc, Chad) Livens of Arlington; two great-grandchildren, Cayden and Mya; a sister, Johanna Schulting, of Menominee, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Leo, Nick and Egidius Jr.; and seven sisters, Catherine Honkamp, Margaret Witterholt, Anna Pemsl, Marie Laing, Frances DeMoss, Cecilia Schroeder and Zita Portzen.

A special thank-you to the Rev. Mark Nemmers and the Holy Trinity Parish for their prayers and concern. Also, Dr. Greg Paulson and his staff for excellent care and support. Thank-you, Finley Home Healthcare, for your kind care, especially Patty and Sherry. The family appreciates all the love, prayers, and visits from relatives, friends and neighbors. May God bless you all.