Lawrence H. Petsche
May 13, 1919 — September 29, 2012
Lawrence Herman Petsche was born on May 13, 1919 to John and Elizabeth (Jacoby) Petsche on the family farm four miles southeast of Westphalia, Iowa. He was the youngest of ten children and was baptized and confirmed at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Westphalia.
Lawrence walked through the field to attend Country School No. 3 in Lincoln Township for one year. He then attended Catholic school in a Westphalia home while a new school was being built. He would either walk to school when the weather was nice, ride a horse, or ride in a wagon or buggy when the weather was bad. As a teenager, Lawrence worked at a harness shop in Harlan learning skills that helped him when he began farming on his own. He also broke horses for area farmers as well as helped his dad on the farm. He played basketball and baseball in high school and was a devoted fan of the New York Yankees throughout his life. He graduated from St. Boniface Catholic School with the Class of 1938.
On September 16, 1941, he was united in marriage to Helen Musich. Six children were born to this union: Mary, Sandra, Joan, Sally, Lanny, and Allen. Lawrence and Helen lived with his parents on a farm near Irwin, Iowa for six months before moving to a farm in Harrison County. He bought two horses from his dad to start farming with. He also bought his first car shortly after they were married - a 1926 Chevrolet Coupe. They lived on a farm near Portsmouth, Iowa before settling near Westphalia where he farmed for fifty-seven years.
In 1947, Lawrence bought his first tractor. It had steel wheels. In 1949, he bought a new tractor that had rubber tires but continued to farm with his horses, especially to pick corn. He was a gentle but hard-working man who valued his independence and enjoyed his family.
Lawrence died at his home on Saturday, September 29, 2012 having attained the age of ninety-three years, four months, and sixteen days. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter Mary, grandson David Wingert, his parents and his brothers and sisters: Agnes, Estelle, Cecelia, Mike, George, Tony, Frank, Leo, and John.
He is survived by his wife of seventy-one years Helen Petsche of Harlan, Iowa; his children: Sandy and her husband Bill Wingert of Harlan, Joan and her husband Marvin Schmitz of Harlan, Sally and her husband Bob Wingert of Red Oak, Iowa, Lanny Petsche and his wife Vicki of Harlan, and Allen Petsche and his wife Sandi of Harlan; fifteen grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; other family members and friends.
Rev. John Frost celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Serving as casket bearers were John Petsche, Steve Schmitz, Mark Wingert, Brian Schmitz, Chad Wingert, Eric Wingert, Nick Schmitz, and Dale Wingert. Interment was held at the Harlan Cemetery.
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Lawrence walked through the field to attend Country School No. 3 in Lincoln Township for one year. He then attended Catholic school in a Westphalia home while a new school was being built. He would either walk to school when the weather was nice, ride a horse, or ride in a wagon or buggy when the weather was bad. As a teenager, Lawrence worked at a harness shop in Harlan learning skills that helped him when he began farming on his own. He also broke horses for area farmers as well as helped his dad on the farm. He played basketball and baseball in high school and was a devoted fan of the New York Yankees throughout his life. He graduated from St. Boniface Catholic School with the Class of 1938.
On September 16, 1941, he was united in marriage to Helen Musich. Six children were born to this union: Mary, Sandra, Joan, Sally, Lanny, and Allen. Lawrence and Helen lived with his parents on a farm near Irwin, Iowa for six months before moving to a farm in Harrison County. He bought two horses from his dad to start farming with. He also bought his first car shortly after they were married - a 1926 Chevrolet Coupe. They lived on a farm near Portsmouth, Iowa before settling near Westphalia where he farmed for fifty-seven years.
In 1947, Lawrence bought his first tractor. It had steel wheels. In 1949, he bought a new tractor that had rubber tires but continued to farm with his horses, especially to pick corn. He was a gentle but hard-working man who valued his independence and enjoyed his family.
Lawrence died at his home on Saturday, September 29, 2012 having attained the age of ninety-three years, four months, and sixteen days. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter Mary, grandson David Wingert, his parents and his brothers and sisters: Agnes, Estelle, Cecelia, Mike, George, Tony, Frank, Leo, and John.
He is survived by his wife of seventy-one years Helen Petsche of Harlan, Iowa; his children: Sandy and her husband Bill Wingert of Harlan, Joan and her husband Marvin Schmitz of Harlan, Sally and her husband Bob Wingert of Red Oak, Iowa, Lanny Petsche and his wife Vicki of Harlan, and Allen Petsche and his wife Sandi of Harlan; fifteen grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; other family members and friends.
Rev. John Frost celebrated the 11:00 AM Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at St. Michael�s Catholic Church in Harlan, Iowa. Serving as casket bearers were John Petsche, Steve Schmitz, Mark Wingert, Brian Schmitz, Chad Wingert, Eric Wingert, Nick Schmitz, and Dale Wingert. Interment was held at the Harlan Cemetery.
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