*Please see full obit below: https://rnpa.org/memoriam/obits
~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. Lawrence T. AMELSE
September 3, 1939 ~ July 31, 2021
Notification with the passing of retired Northwest pilot Captain Lawrence Ted AMELSE, age 81. Captain Amelse joined Northwest Airlines 07-08-1968. He is survived by his wife Ginny, his
siblings, and his children and grandchildren.
To view the obituary and share memories online please visit
the funeral home website at
https://robertsfuneralandcremation.com/amelse-lawrence-l/
Obituary is also available online at
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/twincities/name/lawrence-amelse-obituary?pid=199653290
Please see the obituary below for funeral arrangement and
services.
Thank you,
~ Carol for the PCN
Obituary : Lawrence T. AMELSE, age 81, of Mendota Heights,
MN Passed away on Saturday, July 31st, 2021 at his home surrounded by family.
Larry was born on September 3, 1939, in Eau Claire, WI to Adrian and Marie
Amelse. Larry was raised on a farm near Fall Creek, WI with his twelve siblings.
He attended St. Thomas College before joining the Naval Cadet program and
serving as a US Marine pilot for eight years.
During this time, he served his country in the Cuban Missile
Crisis, Vietnam, and was a crew member on a record C-130 high altitude
parachute drop. Larry joined Northwest Airlines as a pilot and retired in 1999.
Larry married Virginia (Ginny) Mangan on May 2, 1964. He was
a loving father and husband who, along with Ginny, raised six children. He
enjoyed his large family, especially his ten grandchildren. Survivors include
his wife Ginny; his children, Maria Amelse, Jeanette Olson (Thomas), Steve
Amelse (Laura), Tim Amelse (Michelle), Phil Amelse (Cari), and Tony Amelse
(Sherry); his brothers, Rich Amelse, Pete Amelse (Mary); his ten grandchildren;
brother-in-law, Pete Speckien; sister-in-law, Jackie Amelse; and many nieces
and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Adrian and Marie Amelse;
his brothers and sisters, Tony Amelse, Casey Amelse, Rudy Amelse, Dorothy
Yeager, Jane Amelse, Jerry Amelse, Eddie Amelse, John Amelse, Mary Ann
Speckien, and Liz Lewis; sisters-in-law, Tracy, Betty, Mary Ann, Kay and Diane;
brothers-in-law, Leo and Dick.
Visitation will be held from 4-8pm on Wednesday, August 4th
at Roberts Funeral Home (8108 Barbara Ave, Inver Grove Heights). Mass of
Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Thursday, August 5th at Holy Trinity
Catholic Church (749 6th Ave, South St. Paul) followed by burial at Fort
Snelling National Cemetery at 12:30 p.m.
Memorials are preferred to Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
www.robertsfuneralandcremation.com
1939 ~ 2021
Captain Larry Amelse, age 81, was born to Adrian and Marie Amelse in Eau Claire, WI on September 3rd, 1939. Larry was the tenth of thirteen children and was raised in nearby Fall Creek, WI. His childhood routine consisted of helping his parents and siblings on the family dairy farm where he learned the value of hard work – a trait that Larry carried with him throughout his life.
He attended a one room schoolhouse until the eighth grade. From there, Larry spent three years at Society of the Divine Word seminary. He then transferred to Cadott High School where he graduated in 1957. Larry then spent two years at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Larry left college after two years to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot; an interest that began while watching planes occasionally fly overhead as he worked on the family farm.
Larry took his first flight on an aircraft as he flew to Pensacola, FL to enter the Naval Cadet flight training program. Larry was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the United States Marine Corps where he began his eight-year career flying the C-130 Hercules and a short time in the F9F Panther. During his time, Larry was stationed at Cherry Point, NC and Keneohe Bay, HI. and served in the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile crisis. He was also part of a crew that flew (a then record) high altitude parachute drop from his C-130.
In 1968, Larry left the Marine Corps and began his career at Northwest Airlines. Throughout his 32-year career with NWA, Larry flew the 707, 727, 757, 747 and DC-10. Larry finished his career as a DC-10 Captain and flight instructor at the Northwest Aerospace Training Corporation (NATCO).
During periods of layoff’s or strikes, Larry continued to provide for his family, that included a wife and six children, as a gas station attendant, construction worker, mechanic, forklift operator at a local brewery, delivery driver for a meat packing company (to name a few). He was truly a “jack of all trades” and never found a job too big or too difficult to handle. Excellent with vehicles, and general construction and electrical work. As a result, Larry was often the “go to” guy in the neighborhood where he gladly assisted friends and neighbors on many projects. Very well-liked and respected by his children’s friend’s, they gave him the nickname of LTA (Lighter Than Air) – in reference to his initials and his profession.
Larry married Virginia (Ginny) Mangan on May 2nd, 1964, and they remained husband and wife until his death in July of 2021. Together they raised six children and eventually had ten grandchildren.
Following his retirement, Larry continued to be an active member of his church volunteering in many various roles. He and Ginny traveled on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje fourteen times. They also spent two months each year escaping the Minnesota winters by travelling to the Ormond Beach, Florida region.
Larry was always active and on the move. Besides spending time with his family, Larry enjoyed bicycling, running (to include finishing a marathon in his early 50’s), camping, fishing, hunting and watching his favorite football team – the Green Bay Packers.
Larry left a legacy of courage, dedication, hard work, and devotion to faith and family. We will dearly miss our husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend.
(- Amelse Family)
No comments:
Post a Comment