Larry R. Koth

Larry Koth, passed away on Saturday, January 29, 2022, at the age of 82. Larry is survived by his loving wife Joan and his two devoted children; Theresa and Brett (Jill) as well as his sister Marilyn Eldien (Bert). Beloved grandfather to Taylor and Ernie. He is preceded in death by his parents Eleonora and Ervin Koth and his brothers Ervie (Irene) and Tom (BettyAnn). Further survived by sister-in-laws Irene Paeschke, Martha (Mike) Durnil, brother-in-law Hank (Alice) Gattone and many nieces, nephews, and other family members. Larry was born in Milwaukee and graduated Pulaski High in 1957. He studied at UW Milwaukee before being drafted into military service where he served in Vietnam in the military police force from 1962-1963. Coming from a long line of preservationists, Larry worked tirelessly outdoors in forestry and in volunteering for the Nature Conservancy and the Department of Natural Resources to restore native prairie grass. He became a lifelong, self-taught builder and skilled craftsman, having built several houses, a catamaran sailboat, airplane and countless pieces of custom furniture. His adventurous spirit called him to the wilderness often; canoeing into the Arctic Circle, hiking in the deserts of the Southwest and road trips to Alaska and across the U.S. with his children and great friends. The pinnacle of Larry's interests was his love of sailing with his wife, whether it was from his home port on Lake Michigan, from Florida and the Bahamas, or a trip of a lifetime across the Pacific with niece Barbara. Those of us who remain will carry on his legacy of self-reliance and lifelong learning. Visitation on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at 12:00 -2:30 pm with a service at 2:30 pm at Max A. Sass & Sons Greenridge Chapel and Funeral Home, 4747 S. 60th Street, Greenfield, WI 53220. Memorials may be made to the Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin.