John William La Luzerne, 87, passed away on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008. He was born in Green Bay, Wis., on Thursday, Oct. 13, 1921, the son of William Joseph and Frances Elizabeth (Rademacher) La Luzerne. He grew up at 226 South Van Buren Street, the same home where his father was born to Joseph and Elizabeth (Kirby) La Luzerne. His maternal grandparents were Peter and Mary "Nellie" (Sempier) Rademacher. He had a great memory, especially remembering five-cent hamburgers, his famous bike trip (with balloon tires) up to Door County with his friend Ray Mohr, and his first car (a 1936 Chevy). He attended St. John's, Howe and Catholic Central schools and graduated from Green Bay East High School in 1939. He had already begun working for the Green Bay and Western Railroad at this time but was convinced by his friend Ed "Lucky" Lukowitz to join the Navy, and enlisted on Sept.1, 1942. After attending radio school in Indianapolis, he was transferred to Providence, R.I., where he was shipped off on the Queen Elizabeth over to Scotland. Over the next several years, he served on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ranger, attended Oberlin College (Ohio) under the Navy's V-12 program and became an Aviation Radioman 3rd class. He was especially proud of the "Blue Nose" certificate he received when he went above the Arctic Circle on Oct. 3, 1943. He received an honorable discharge on Feb. 10, 1946, as an Apprentice Seaman. He opted to finish his schooling through the GI bill, and received a business degree from Miami (Ohio) University in 1947. He returned to work for the Green Bay and Western, and on June 30, 1951, married Constance (Connie) Anne Coorlim at St. Jerome's Church in Chicago. They moved around Green Bay, settling for a while on Biemeret Street. In 1960, they moved to South Quincy Street where they raised six children and lived for over 40 years. In October, 1983, he retired as Director of Pricing for the Green Bay and Western Railroad after 44 years of service. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral for many years as well as the the Green Bay Traffic Club and the GBW Alumni Club. In 1992, John suffered a dissecting aortic aneurysm, which limited his mobility but didn't diminish his memories. He spent his last few years at Rennes Health Center, where he regaled the staff and anyone who would listen with his stories and memories.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister and brother-in-law Mildred (Millie) and Bucky Mazza; and brothers, Bernard (Bernie) and Richard (Dick).

He is survived by his wife, Constance; children, Susan, Paul (special friend, Jane Smurawa), Ann (Dave) Vandenack, Ellen (Mik Clayton), Tony, George (Val); sister-in-law, Bernice La Luzerne; brother-in-law, Spiro (Carol) Coorlim; and many nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Gathering time with family and friends will be held on Friday, Nov. 21, 2008, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Schauer & Schumacher Funeral Home, 340 S. Monroe Ave. Visitation will continue on Saturday at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, 140 S. Monroe Ave. from 10 a.m. until the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. with Msgr. Roy M. Klister officiating. Entombment will be in Allouez Catholic Mausoleum. Memorials to Unity Hospice would be appreciated.

While it is sad that he is gone and we will miss his corny sense of humor and twinkling blue eyes, we will all smile at the memories he left for us.

Thanks to the staff at Rennes Health Center, Unity Hospice, Father Paul DeMuth and Shauer and Schumacher Funeral Home.

To express an online condolence, visit www .schauer-schumacher funeralhome.com.

SCHAUER &

SCHUMACHER

FUNERAL HOME

432-4841