Lawrence “Larry” Duerr ’52

Lawrence “Larry” Duerr ’52
Nov. 16, 2016 

Larry Duerr went home to be with Jesus on November 16, 2016, he was 82 years old. He was a cultivator of hearts. His language of love was his time, service and energy. He worked three jobs when he had to, but knew how to sit in the sun and feel the warmth on his face. He was into health food and grew organic vegetables long before it was cool. He didn’t need or want the Internet, or Al Gore for that matter.

Larry could swing both a shrewd deal and an expert hammer. He could hold a fishing pole or the cheek of a newborn with equal skill. Larry never paid retail and gave of himself wholesale. No one has ever paid less for a Thanksgiving turkey or felt more love at his Thanksgiving feasts. Larry was a faithful Packer fan even through the Lindy Infante and Ray Rhodes decades of drought. His Faith in God was strong and steady, but he played cards like the devil.He traveled the world, but was most at home in his backyard orchard with his beloved fruit trees and garden. He tended them like he did his family, with a firm but loving hand. He was a fierce protector of his domain and an avenging angel to the rabbits that dared poach his garden. He arrived at his 70th birthday party by skydiving. Meeting him was a raucous horde of grandchildren screaming “Grandpa” and a Marine Honor Guard who addressed him as “sir.” Larry loved to cook. His recipe for rib-roast has more complexity than the invasion at Normandy. The secret of his simple spaghetti sauce is a full pound of love for each person at the table and then one extra pinch so there was always room for one more.

He loved old war movies, Rachmaninoff concertos and root beer floats. Larry could spend a month picking out an anniversary gift, could spend an hour selecting a perfect tomato, but became annoyed if you bought him something more extravagant than socks for Christmas. He gave his love, life and his heart to everyone around him. At the end, his heart was all used up. He lived 30,059 days. Not long enough for those of us who knew him, but the perfect number according to God’s will and perfect plan.

He left for his new life as he had lived: he was hand in hand with the wife he loved and surrounded by the family he grew. His passing was overflowing with love, prayers of thanks and praise, songs of Faith, tears and of course, laughter. If you knew him, please join us as we celebrate his life and legacy. If you didn’t, come anyway. We’d love to tell you about him. We’ll share some funny stories and show you what holding up the light of Faith can do in a lifetime.

Well done good and Faithful servant.

Larry was a member of the Saint John’s Preparatory School’s Class of 1952.

Larry is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Rosie (Sereno) and their six children; Laura and her husband, Chris Wieloch and their children Michael (Shannon), Patrick (friend, Emily), Brian (Lauren) and grand-daughter Lucy; Greg and his wife Sharon (Micke) and their children Brett (Amy), Trent, Kelly, Scott and their grand-daughters Stella and Nora; Karen and her son Tommy, Renee and her husband, Greg Breitbach and their children Ben and Elena, Betsy and her husband Chad Borns and their children Mackenzie and Zach, Andy and his wife Jennifer (McGuire) and their children Annaliese and Samantha; his sister Rita (Jim) Jordan, his brother Michael (Jean) Duerr; many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents Ben and Clara (Marx) Duerr, two sisters, MaryJane Lynum and Sr. Teresa.The funeral service for Larry will be held at 11:30am, Monday, November 21, 2016 at St. Pius X, 500 W Marquette St. Appleton, and visitation will be held on Sunday, November 20, 2016 from 4:00pm until 7:00pm, with a prayer service at 7:00pm at Valley Funeral Home, 2211 N. Richmond St, Appleton. The visitation will continue on Monday, from 10:00am until 11:15am at the church prior to the service.