Larry Emmett Norris

Larry Emmett Norris, aged 81, of La Crosse, weighed anchor for the last time and shipped out to meet his maker on January 20, 2024. He was born on September 23, 1942, on the family farm in rural Vernon County, Wisconsin, just east of Westby.  He was delivered by his great aunt Gertrude (nee Norris) Potter.  He was the first child born to Clair and Martha (nee Bey) Norris. He was baptized and later confirmed at First Lutheran Evangelical Church in La Crosse.

Prior to his starting school, the family moved to Zenda, Wisconsin in rural Walworth County.  He attended a one room school house there and again when the family moved to a farm in what is now the Bong Wildlife Sanctuary area.

In 1952, the family moved to La Crosse, where he attended Washburn School. In 1953, his teacher brought a, then almost unheard of, portable T.V. to scool, so the class could watch the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.  He also attended First Lutheran (a.k.a. Dutch College), Lincoln Jr. High and then onto “Old Central,” where he sang in the robed choir and graduated with the class of 1961.

In 1955, he contracted polio and spent 31 days in isolation at Old Saint Ann’s Hospital.  The disease affected his throat, back and left leg, which continued to cause him problems for the rest of his life.

In early 1960, his father signed, so he could enlist in the Naval Reserves.  During the summer of 1961, he attended and graduated from Machinist Mate “A” School, at Great Lakes, IL, and in December 1961 went on active duty.  He first served on board the U.S.S. Daniel A. Joy (DE525) and then on the U.S.S. James C. Owens (DD776) for the duration of his enlistment.  He was assigned to the forward engine room, main control as a Machinist Mate Third Class.  Most memorable during his time aboard the Owens were the patrols between Norfolk, VA, and Charleston, SC, during the pre-Cuban Missile Crisis and then recon/blockade patrol off the Cuban coast after the crisis during which time Russian ships were bringing weapons out of Cuba.  On the 50th anniversary he (along with other La Crosse area veterans) was included in a La Crosse Tribune article about the crisis.

After his discharge in February of 1964, he came back to La Crosse and went to work for Bell Northern Oil Company, first as a bookkeeper and later as a field supervisor, responsible for 32 stations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.

During the summer of 1964, he met his future wife while drag racing her in her dad’s push button Dodge in Riverside Park in downtown La Crosse.  They were engaged on November 5, 1964, and on April 10, 1965, he and Sharon Lee Nanscawen were married at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in La Crosse.  He always said he chased her until she caught him.  To that union was born five children: Rebecca Lynn, James William, Sarah Jean, Samantha Elizabeth and Zachary John David.

On March 8, 1967, Larry began his long law enforcement career by joining the La Crosse County Traffic Police.  In 1975, he was promoted to sergeant where he was a shift commander.  In the mid-1980’s, the Traffic Police was merged with the Sheriff’s Department, and in 1995, he was promoted to captain and appointed as La Crosse County’s first Jail Administrator.  He retired on December 28, 1998, after nearly 32 years of service.

During his career, he attended Northwestern Traffic Institute, once for traffic accident investigation and again for accident reconstruction, investigating/reconstructing over 350 fatal accidents.  He taught accident investigation in the recruit classes at Western Wisconsin Technical Institute, now Western Technical College, for 25 years and the same subject for two years in the associate degree program until they got their own in-house instructors.  He was chairman of the La Crosse County Safety Committee for 25 years, and he also was a state certified radar instructor, specializing in case law. He was three classes short of getting his associate degree in Police Science and regretted not completing it.

Those who knew him will most remember him for his unique sense of humor, ever present pipe, handlebar mustache, pigtail, tattoos, ability to talk to anyone, stellar work ethic, willingness to help anyone and his two most often stated quotes: “If you don’t have integrity, you have nothing.” and “If you don’t think you’ll like my answer, don’t ask the question.”

In earlier years besides working for the county, he also did drywalling for Ted Rhode and delivered potatoes for Joyce and Paul Herlitzke at Potato King.  He was a voracious reader, especially history, and had a large library.  He liked to fish, deer hunt with his sons and friends and league bowled until he was 70, when he had to quit because of a shoulder injury.  After retirement, he helped Butch Halverson build several garages for friends and a house for Butch’s daughter, Kris.

Larry believed in God but was not a church goer and was ever grateful for the blessings God bestowed on him; a loving wife, children who are successful, two great careers and the ability to provide for his family.

He is predeceased by his beautiful bride, Sharon, of 58 years on April 18, 2023, his father Clair on June 20, 1987,  his mother Martha on July 28, 2009 and his son-in-law Paul Steinhoff on May 14, 2017.  He is survived by his children Rebecca (David) Jacobson and Nicholas and Erin of Plover, WI; James (Shela) Norris, Ryann and Payton and step-granddaughter Scout of Eau Claire, WI; Sarah (Terry) Zimmerman and Landon and Devin of Saxeville, WI; Samantha (Jon) Parkhurst and Mason, Owen and Calvin of La Crosse, WI; Zachary (Kendra) Norris and Bailey, Emma, Joshua and Caleb of Fond du Lac, WI; and Sandra Steinhoff and Gabrielle of Stewartville, MN.  Additionally, Larry leaves behind nine great-grandchildren:  Oakleigh, Apollo, Lennox, Brecken, Eden, Ginny, Archie, Naomi and Callum. He is further survived by a sister Donna (Don) Jobe of La Crosse, and two brothers, Clair II, “Jeep” (Sue) Norris of La Crosse, and Anthony (Vivian) Norris of Holmen, his best friend Karl “Butch” Halverson of Holmen and his daughter Kristin Joan who was like another daughter; his close friend and hunting partner Russell Schleifer of Melrose, WI, and his Wednesday breakfast partner Larry Brague of La Crosse, WI, along with other family and friends.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at English Lutheran Church in La Crosse, WI.  Visitation will be held starting at 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.

We continue to honor his life by helping other students at Western Technical College achieve their dreams.  If you would like to remember Larry in a special way, join our efforts to fund the Larry Norris Criminal Justice Memorial Scholarship.  This scholarship will go to deserving students enrolled in the Criminal Justice program.

You can donate online at westerntc.edu/give-now or mail directly to the Western Technical College Foundation at 400 7th St N, La Crosse, WI 54601.  Check payable to Western Technical Foundation and designate the gift to go to the Larry Norris Criminal Justice Memorial Scholarship.

Thank you for your consideration of honoring Larry’s legacy in this special way.