Lawrence (Larry) Lewis Rosenthal, 99
Lawrence (Larry) Lewis Rosenthal, age 99 of Stevens Point, passed away at his home with his family on February 11, 2022, of age-related illnesses.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Larry will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1709 Wyatt Ave., Stevens Point. Rev. Jeffrey Hennes will officiate. Friends and family may gather to share memories from 9:30-10:45 a.m. on Wednesday at the church. Burial with full Military Honors will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Larry was born on September 2, 1922, at his childhood home on Franklin Street in Stevens Point to parents Loddie and Mamie (Kieliszewski) Rosenthal. He graduated from P.J. Jacobs High School in 1940.
In 1942, Larry enlisted in the Army Air-Corp where he served as a top turret gunner and engineer on a B24 until he was shot while on guard duty in Africa. Following recovery, Larry utilized his craftsmanship and knowledge as a student trainer and model builder. He was honorably discharged as Staff Sargent in 1945.
One of Larry’s most fond memories related to his service was to take part in the Never Forgotten Honor Flight visiting the war memorials in Washington D.C. and visiting with other veterans.
Upon returning to Stevens Point Larry began his business and family life. He started his own furniture upholstering business Larry’s Upholstering. His first location on North 2nd street was destroyed by fire which then led to moving the business to 2830 Church Street in Stevens Point where it stayed until his retirement. Larry and his brother Jack worked for many years together refurbishing furniture and making many friends and customers along the way.
During this time, he also met Donna Golke and married her in 1957. They had three sons, Robert, David, and Daniel who all grew up in the house Donna and Larry built on the Wisconsin River west of town. Donna and Larry were married until Donna’s passing in 1999.
Larry was a self-proclaimed “River Rat.” Growing up on the river during his childhood and then building his own house on the river was a dream come true for him. He saw the transition of the river from a logging transportation system to the hydro-powered utility and recreational venue it is today. Water activities were a big part of Larry’s life. He would spend numerous hours helping Howard Wells repair outboard motors, race his own hydroplanes and runabouts in the local powerboat races, build boats for himself and others, and later in life helped run the race committee for the Lac DuBay sailors club. He especially enjoyed his time in the sailing community helping on the committee boat and watching his son, David, race around the state.
Music was also an important aspect of Larry’s life. The children remember many a night that Larry and Donna, a church organist, would have friends over for socializing and song singing. He was also an active member of the St. Josephs Catholic Church choir and spearheaded the purchase and installation of a new organ for the church during his tenure. The church choir is where he also met Martha Wroblewski.
The wedding of Larry and Martha in 2003 was a new chapter in his life. Martha welcomed Larry into her house on Dixon Street and into her family where the two of them helped each other make a home and have a comfortable life together until Martha became ill with her passing in 2020.
Larry’s final chapter in life found him back on the river where his son Rob took care of his many needs helping him navigate the medical and disabled veteran systems. Rob’s help and care allowed Larry to live out his final years on the river where he lived for most of his life.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his wives Donna and Martha, sister Catherine Ziolkowski, and brother John. Larry is survived by his sons Robert, David (Renee), Daniel (Linda), and grandchildren Nicole, Carly, Jacob, William, Sarah, and Abigail.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made for Larry Rosenthal, Flight #5, Never Forgotten Honor Flight, 225780 Rib Mountain Drive #234 Wausau, Wis., 54401; neverforgottenhonorflight.org.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.shudafuneral.com
