Sydney H. "Syd" Lazere 1926-2011

LAZERE, ROBINOW, HART

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/31/2013 at 13:03:22

Sioux City Journal
27 December 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Sydney H. "Syd" Lazere formerly of Sioux City, son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, businessman, mentor, boss, provider and caretaker, baker, handyman, ergonomic specialist/inventor, mole hunter and lawn care specialist, bargain hunter, nosher, bread connoisseur, big band and jazz-music lover, perfectionist and friend to many, died peacefully on Dec. 24, 2011.

A memorial service honoring will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Sons of Abraham Congregation (1820 Main) in La Crosse, Wis., followed by a lunch. Family and friends are welcome.

Syd was born in Sioux City, on Sept. 17, 1926, the second of four children (Shirley, Resa and Norman) born to Leah (Robinow) Lazere and Aaron Moses "Mo" Lazere. He also had a half sister, Marcy.

Syd married Monica Hart in 1958, and they raised four wonderful boys in Sioux City. Syd ran the Sioux City Bakery, a family-owned business from 1955 until 1983. Growing up, he had vowed that he would never be a baker, but circumstances pulled him back to Sioux City and the bakery in 1955. In order to operate the bakery, he enrolled in Dunwoody Technical School in Minneapolis to learn how to bake and run a bakery.

By all measures, it was a very successful business, providing a comfortable life for Syd's family and 25 to 30 employees, many of whom worked at the bakery for decades. He was a perfectionist, working many hours to produce the best products, and expected the same level of commitment from his workers. Although demanding, he was a fair and caring boss who was well liked by his employees.

The bakery was a full-service bakery that was loved by many. The bagels and varieties of breads were on par with ethnic bakeries in New York or Chicago, and the decorated birthday and wedding cakes were works of art, written up in many bakery magazines. He developed new formulas for cakes that he taught to bakers at conventions, which are now standard fare in bakeries all over the country. Sioux Cityans still talk wistfully of their favorite items at the bakery.

Syd sold the bakery in 1983. Not ready to retire, he tried his hand at selling insurance, but that didn't suit him. A supermarket in La Crosse, Skogens, was advertising for a bakery manager. This drew him back into the bakery business, and brought him and Monica to a new community that became their home for the last 25 years.

His last career began in 1989, managing a seasonal Christmas store in La Crosse. In 2003, Syd retired again and threw himself into caring for his home, surrounding lawn and landscaping, and his family. A heart attack and triple bypass surgery in 2007 finally sidelined him.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Monica; sons, Mike (Lynn) of Ames, Iowa, Bob (Janine) of Greensburg, Pa., Steve (Marla) of Peoria, Ariz., and Ed (Suzanne) of Washington, DC; and his loving grandchildren, David, Ben, Adam, Zoey, Hannah, Kaley, and Dallas; and stepgrandchildren, India and Josh.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and by his brother, Norman.

Syd will be remembered for his intelligence and wit, his easy going and caring nature, his generosity, his diligence and commitment to work, his quick smile, and the love he showered on his family.

Donations in Syd's name can be made to the Hunger Task Force of La Crosse or to the Sons of Abraham Congregation in La Crosse.