GANSER, Lawrence J 1913-1979

GANSER, BROST, VANBREE, EI

Posted By: Diane Scott (email)
Date: 9/23/2010 at 16:42:59

#1
LAWRENCE GANSER: 65 Dies in Florida Home
Died January 31,1979
Stacyville: Lawrence Ganser , a native of this area, died of a heart attack in his home at Merritt Island, Florida. He was found by neighbors who became suspicious when they did not see him for two days watering his outdoor plants.
He was a retired Air Force Master Sergeant, after spending 20 years, between 1935 and 1955 in service. During his retirement, he lived four years in Milwaukee and the remainder of the time until his death, at Merritt Island, Florida.
He is survived by two brothers, Maurice of Milwaukee and Gerald of Indianapolis, Indiana; two sisters, Mrs. Ray Eichhorst (Mary) of Cape Canaveral, Florida and Mrs. Pauline Van Bree of Racine,WI;also 11 nieces and nephews.

He was born in Stacyville, IA August 10,1913 , the son of Hillard and Anna (Brost) Ganser and attended schools here.

Funeral services and burial were held Saturday Feb 3 at Merritt Island, Florida

Stacyville Newspaper, date unknown

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#2
Merritt Island, Florida paper
Lawrence Ganser: known throughout the Merritt Island as the bearded man on a moped, was found dead at his home Wednesday. He was 65.
For nearly 20 years, Ganser, a retired Air Force master sergeant, rode bicycles and most recently mopeds-up and down the SR 520 Causeway in Central Brevard.
He was known-especially in several local bars where he was a regular-for his unusual combination of crewcut and the long white beard that blew behind him as he rode up and down the causeway.
"When he rode, it parted down the middle" said Mike Chura of Merritt Island, a friend for 12 years. "It is the funniest thing you have ever seen."
"It was his trademark, everybody knew who he was".
"We call him Santa Claus " said Trudy Osborne of Merritt Island, a friend and neighbor for two years. "He was quite a conversational piece on the Island. The kids loved him and his beard. And he loved the kids ".
Ganser was found by Osborne and two other neighbors in his home, a small trailer in the Panarama Trailer Court, 215 S. Courtneay Parkway, Merritt Island, at about 11:30 am Wednesday.
Mrs. Osborne said she and other neighbors began to get suspicious when they did not see him for two days.
"Every morning he was always out watering his plants" she said "But for the last two days we did not see him."
After trying unsuccessfully to contact his relatives nearby, the three neighbors entered the building, where they found him in an easy chair in a pair of pajamas.
Brevard County Sheriff's deputies arrived shortly after and Ganser's body was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. The cause and time of death was undetermined, but it is believed he died of natural causes.
"He was a very active guy", said George Minton of Merritt Island, a friend for several years. "He'd bounce around town all day long on that bike. He used to have a dog which he put in a basket and took with him"
"He would hit every bar around here , have one or two beers and then be on his way".
Ganser, who was married and divorced several years ago, is survived by two brothers and two sisters. One of his sisters, Mary Eichhorst and her husband, Ray, live in Cape Canaveral.