Lawrence Wittkop

Lawrence James “Larry” Wittkop, 71, of Hokah, MN, passed away Thursday, Nov. 3, 2016, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI after a long battle with lung cancer.
Larry was born March 7, 1945 to Gertrude “Pat” (Clear) and Virgil Wittkop in Seattle, WA. The oldest of nine siblings, he was raised on the family farm in St. Rose, MN, until 1955 when the family moved to White Bear Lake, MN. Devoted to his family from an early age, Larry spent his early years helping on the family farm, guiding his siblings, and participating in cross-country track at White Bear Lake High School. He graduated high school in 1963 and served 4 years with U.S. Navy during Vietnam.
Following his time in the Navy, Larry earned his Electrician’s Journeyman Certification from St. Paul Technical College. During this time, Larry met his two lifelong best friends Kurt Barenthin and Mark Barry. Thanks to Mark, Larry met the love of his life, Leah Eyler, whom he married on May 17, 1975. Larry and Leah settled in Hokah, MN after he took a job as an electrician at Trane Co. in 1977.
He spent his early years in Hokah as a volunteer firefighter with the Hokah Fire Department and enjoyed making many friends through community and church events. Larry’s devotion to his family continued to grow during these years as he and Leah raised their son and daughter, Wade and Erin.
Larry shared his love of the outdoors with friends and family alike, teaching his children to fish, hunt, and hike from an early age. He and Leah frequently hosted friends and family during deer hunting season, took Wade and Erin on summertime fishing trips back to the Wittkop family farm, and made nature hikes a regular part of weekend plans when the Barenthin, Barry, and Janeczko families came to visit.
After retiring from Trane in 2005, Larry enjoyed traveling with Leah, their friends Mark and Linda Barry, Kurt and Marge Barenthin, and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Linda and Ed Janeczko. He also enjoyed helping with community events at St. Peter’s Church in Hokah, MN and taking scenic drives around the Root River Valley, many times with his friend Robert “Smokey” Johnson.
Seeing his children start their own families was one of his greatest joys. He adored spending time with his grandchildren, Aubrey and Owen, their parents Wade and Katie, and their maternal grandparents, Paul and Cheryl Armendariz. They regularly traveled to Annapolis, MD and recently San Mateo, CA to visit their daughter Erin and son-in-law Edward Coffey.
Larry is survived by his wife, Leah; son, Wade (Katie) Wittkop of Jordan, MN; daughter Erin (Edward) Wittkop-Coffey of San Mateo, CA; two grandchildren: Aubrey and Owen; six siblings: Rocky (Pat) Wittkop, Kathy (Mike) Cassiday, Mike (Valda) Wittkop, Wayne Wittkop, Karen (Ted) Bell, and Wanda (Eric) Narvaez; and 21 nieces and nephews.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Dennis and Don Wittkop; sister-in-law, Eileen Wittkop; cousins: Joe and John Wittkop; and numerous aunts and uncles.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, November 9th, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Hokah. Rev. William Kulas will officiate. Burial will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Hokah. Family and friends may call from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 111 So. Oak St., La Crescent, and from 10:00 a.m. until the time of mass on Wednesday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Peter’s Church and School or to the organization of the donor’s choice in Larry’s memory.