Lawrence "Larry" Lee Hoadley Jr., age 70, of West Bend, went to be with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Monday, February 18, 2008, after battling PSP Progressive Supra Nuclear Palsy as well as diabetes for the past several years.
Larry was born on March 23, 1937 in Milwaukee to the late Lawrence and Hortence (nee Mollig) Hoadley Sr. He graduated in 1955 from the Wauwatosa High School and a few years later served his country by enlisting in the United States Army. Following his service in the military he was united in marriage to his life long friend Mary Jane Blink on January 17, 1963. Together they started a family a short time later.
Larry loved motorcycles; he sold and repaired them for several shops before becoming the proud owner of his own motorcycle shop called Richfield Motors. Eventually Larry left the motorcycle business and went back to school to become a tool and die maker. During that time he was employed by Milwaukee Machine Products. Before his retirement, Larry taught tool and die at Moraine Park Technical College in West Bend while also working for Weasler Engineering in West Bend. Throughout his retirement Larry pursued his passion for motorcycles by starting a new business called Hoadley's Motorcycles, which specialized in restoring classic British bikes.
Larry had many proud moments in his life, but his most noble accomplishment was his 25 years of sobriety that he was able to achieve with the support of his family and his friends from the Unity Club in West Bend.
Larry was survived by his two loving daughters, Melody (Bill) Stoltenberg of Brown Deer, and Elizabeth (Dan) Starr of West Bend; his four grandchildren, Joshua, Luke, and Matthew Stoltenberg, and Alexander Starr. He was further survived by his sister, Elizabeth (Skip) Artz; his brother, Richard Hoadley; his step-brother, Pat Shehy; and many other dear relatives and close friends.
Larry was preceded in death by Mary Hoadley; his parents; his stepmother, Alyce; and his two brothers, Harvey and George Hoadley.
A funeral service in celebration of Larry's life will be held on Wednesday, February 20, at 6:00 pm at the Myrhum-Patten Funeral Home in West Bend. Pastor Mike Moran of Kettlebrook Church in West Bend will officiate. A visitation with the family and friends will be at the funeral home on Wednesday from 5:00 pm until the time of service at 6:00 pm. Cremation will follow the service and burial of his cremated remains will be in Washington County Memorial Park.
Memorials to the family would be greatly appreciated.