Lawrence Lee Wier's Obituary
Lawrence Lee Wier, 88 years old, of Salt Lake City, UT passed away surrounded by loved ones on October 11, 2024. Larry was born December 20, 1935 to Rose and Tom Wier in East Chicago, Indiana and raised in historic Mark Town, Indiana. A dedicated husband, father and grandfather, Larry is survived by his wife of 63 years, Florence Wier (nee Stan); children Alison (Norman) Frye, and Peter (Kari) Wierr; grandchildren, Tobin Wier and Ruby Wier; and sister Lorraine (Frank) Pollack. Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents, Rose and Tom Wier and his sister, Eileen (Russell) Struss.
Larry attended Roosevelt High School in East Chicago, Indiana, where he played football and participated in track. Larry graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois with a BS in mathematics and received a MA in school administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. Larry’s career began as a teacher in East Chicago, Indiana and Calumet Township, Gary, Indiana. In 1969, Larry and his family moved to Kankakee, Illinois, where he accepted a supervisory position as an assistant principal then principal at Kennedy Upper Grade Center until 1993. He then became principal at St. Martin’s Catholic Elementary School until retiring in 1997. After retiring, Larry and his wife built their dream home in the foothills of the Wellsville mountains in Mendon, Utah. They made many friends in Cache Valley and having many happy memories of their time there.
Larry was well known for his love of life and had many hobbies and interests. While in Kankakee, he was active in the community, serving as Lion’s Club President and the Parish Council at St. Teresa Catholic Church. He restored a 1931 Model A Ford and was an active participant in the Kankakee Vintage Car Club. For fifty years, Larry lovingly cared for his Model A which was a fixture in front of Kennedy Upper Grade while he was principal there. He was often seen driving it around town, in parades, and at weddings. Collecting model trains became a passion after retirement when he created elaborate train boards and shared them with many. Larry was well known for his homemade sausages, especially his bratwurst which he made for countless parties. Larry spent many of his winters skiing and especially loved the trails of Beaver Mountain and Alta, Utah, where he was a member of the Wild Old Bunch. During his life, Larry saw much of the world, traveling to Germany, Hungary, and Cuba to see the vintage cars. He and his wife spent a year teaching English as a second language in Taiwan which provided an opportunity to experience many Asian countries.
Larry will be remembered for his warm caring for and about others. His easy laughter made others feel loved. If anyone needed a helping hand, Larry could always be counted on. He will be greatly missed. Visiting hours for Larry will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church located at 1375 Spring Lane in Holladay, Utah, at 10:00 on Saturday, October 19th. A mass will follow at 11:00. Interment at Memorial Mountain View Cemetery, 3115 Bengal Boulevard. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to National Kidney Foundation, American Heart Foundation, or St. Judes.
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