Lorenz "Larry" W. Bode

Lorenz “Larry’ Waldemar Bode, age 82 of Elizabeth, Illinois, went into the arms of the Lord on January 13, 2012 in his home. A funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 17, 2011 at the Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabeth. A visitation will be held from 10:00-11:30 a.m., prior to the service at the church. A second funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Slades Corners, Wisconsin. A visitation will be held from 12:00 Noon-2:00 p.m., prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place in the St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, Slades Corners. A memorial fund has been established.
Larry was born on July 23, 1929, the son of John and Alice (Boeder) Bode in Gibbon, Minnesota. He studied agriculture while attending Montana State College in Bozeman, Montana in 1952. In 1953, Larry served in the 97th Division of the Sig. Corps United States Army, working as a telephone line technician in Germany. Larry was united in marriage to Judith C. Thiede on February 11, 1956 in Burlington, Wisconsin. Their union was blessed with one daughter, Lori. Following their marriage, Larry and Judy lived near Burlington, Wisconsin, where he worked at Mariondale Dairy as a delivery man and in the office. He was also a Real Estate Broker and owned Countryside Realty in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin. Larry was a gentleman farmer who loved to garden and raised many different animals.
In 1995, Larry and Judy moved to Elizabeth to be nearer to their daughter, Lori and son in-law, Paul. Judy passed away on April 11, 1999. He was a caring and devoted husband for forty-three years. After his wife’s passing, Larry taught himself to use a computer and invest in the stock market, which he did until his death. In January of 2000, the Lord blessed him with the joy of his life, a grandson, Kyle. Kyle and his grandpa were best friends. Larry was a faithful member of the Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, Elizabeth and the St. John’s Lutheran Church, Slades Corners. Larry lived with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia for over forty years and was an inspiration to many in how he managed his illness. His kindness and faith touched everyone who knew him, including his family, friends, doctors and nurses.
Lorenz will be dearly missed by one daughter, Lori (Paul) Murphy of Galena, one grandson, Kyle Murphy at home; one step-granddaughter, Tonia Murphy of Plainfield, Illinois; two brothers, Glenn (Lois) Bode of New Ulm, Minnesota and Melvin (Lois) Bode of Gibbon, Minnesota; one sister, Carolyn (LeRoy) Kramer of New Ulm and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Alice and his wife, Judy.
Special thanks go to Pastor Kenneth Arndt, Pastor Daniel Nitz, Dr. Allen Crist and the staff at Medical Associates and Dr. Walter Longo and the staff at U.W. Madison Hospital. We are thankful to the Lord for sharing him with us and look forward to a joyful reunion with him in heaven.