Lawrence Kislia

VERONA / MIDDLETON / JANESVILLE – Lawrence L. Kislia Jr., age 83, passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2015, under hospice care at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital surrounded by his family.

He was born on April 23, 1931, in Edgerton, to Lawrence and Elsie (Knight) Kislia. He attended high school in South Beloit, Ill., before entering the U.S. Army on May 5, 1949. He served one year in Japan in the Japanese Logistical Command. Lawrence was discharged in October of 1952. On June 6, 1953, he married Janet “Sue” Susan St. John in South Beloit, Ill. He served as a volunteer firefighter in South Beloit. In 1958 he moved his family to Washington State and in 1960 he re-enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent on temporary duty to Berlin Germany while the Berlin Wall was going up. In 1964 he was stationed in Germany with his family and they spent four years there. After returning to the states, Lawrence and his family lived in Fort Bragg N.C. In 1968, he served one year in Vietnam, after which he had another tour in Germany. Lawrence returned from Germany in 1973, and was stationed at Fort Monmouth New Jersey. He served in Korea from 1976 to 1977, and then retired from the U.S. Army in October 1977.

He and his family moved to Janesville, where they resided for the next 25 years. In 2003 Lawrence and Sue relocated to Verona, before finally settling in Middleton. Lawrence loved to be outdoors, fishing and camping, flying remote controlled airplanes, and riding motorcycles. He also liked to square dance- he was a member of the “Janesville Swinging Squares”. Lawrence and Sue ran their own business, Badgerland Engraving, for ten years while living in Janesville. He also loved CB radio and went by the handle of “Mr. Mover”. He was also known by friends, family, and the wonderful staff at the VA Hospital as “The Candyman”. On April 25 of this year, he was to be honored for his years of wartime service by going on the Badger Honor Flight to Washington D.C., accompanied by his son Gerald. Lawrence was a wonderful husband, a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and a loyal friend to many; his words of wisdom and advice will be missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 62 years, Sue; his six children, Charlene Arrington, Gayle Kislia, Lawrence (Sherry) Kislia III, Gerald (Amanda) Kislia, Wanda “Jeannie” (Ron) Miller, Sheri (John) Weldy; 19 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren; his sister, Charlotte (Bob) Andrus; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Lois and brother, Dick.

A special thank you to the staff at the VA Hospice Center for all the exceptional care they gave to Lawrence. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Badger Honor Flight, American Diabetes Association, or West Middleton Lutheran Church.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2015, at 11 a.m. at WEST MIDDLETON LUTHERAN CHURCH with Pastor Ted Lindquist presiding. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. with burial and full Military Honors to follow at Verona City Cemetery. To view and sign this guestbook, please visit: www.ryanfuneralservice.com