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Larry Griffiths, 77, passed away at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009.
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He fought the good fight and is now without pain and at rest in heaven with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Larry was born Oct. 24, 1931, in Milwaukee and was the adopted son of Ernest and Effie [Roland] Griffiths, of Racine. He graduated from Washington Park High School in 1950, where he met his high school sweetheart, Marlys Jeanne Siemens, whom he married Dec. 31, 1954. She preceded him in death. Larry and Marlys had two daughters, Terri Sue (Charlie Cacciotti), of Madison, and Patti Jeanne (Clinton Bryant), of Oshkosh.
Larry attended the University of Wisconsin Extension in Racine, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ill., where he participated in the Men's Glee Club and other ministries. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in education from UW-Platteville in 1959. While attending UW-Platteville, Larry played basketball and became a preacher. He pastored his first church, the Mount Ida Baptist Church, near Fennimore.
Following his college graduation in 1959, Larry and Marlys moved to Chetek where they began teaching, coaching and directing theatre. Larry taught at Chetek Junior High School. He and Marlys were active as camp managers of Chetek Baptist Assembly Camp - "Camp Chetek" for many years.
Larry continued his teaching career at Eau Claire North Junior High in 1965, where he taught health and science, coached diving and became an Indianhead Country official in basketball, football and hockey. He completed 29 years of teaching in the Eau Claire Public School District at Delong Middle School, where he was an active ski club chaperone enjoying many Friday night ski trips with his students and teacher friends.
Larry led an active life of teaching, preaching, officiating sporting events, skiing (water and snow), biking, golfing and traveling.
He will be remembered as a very special pastor to the congregation of Amy Chapel, Elk Mound, where he served as interim for nine years. He served other interim pastoral posts through his life.
After the death of his wife, Larry continued to serve wherever there was need and opportunity. He was campus chaplain of Mount Scenario College in Ladysmith, and director of pastoral care for Lakeview Medical Hospice Homecare Services, Rice Lake. In Bruce he was a ski instructor and National Ski Patrol member at Christie Mountain. Larry served as short-term missionary teacher to Russia and Alaska, basketball camp coach, and Friday morning men's Bible study leader, where attendance was higher than he could have imagined. He was the ultimate attendee-participant in many sport and music events for his grandchildren.
Larry was a very special grandpa to six grandchildren, Ethan, Catharyne, Gabriella, Michaella, Genessi and Casey; and a loving father to Terri and Patti and sons-in-law Charlie and Clinton. He was such a special friend and mentor to many people who will remember his kind, gentle manner and sparkling blue eyes.
A celebration of Larry's life took place on Tuesday at Maranatha Evangelical Free Church, 3340 S. Main St., Rice Lake. A committal will be held at Lakeview Cemetery, 1500 Bluffington Drive, Eau Claire.
Remembrances may be sent to Appleyard's Home for Funerals, 19 W. Messenger St., Rice Lake, WI 54868.
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©The Chetek Alert 2009
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