Obituaries

Larry Hoskins

PORTAGE  -- Larry E. Hoskins fought a long and courageous 10 year battle with heart disease, but when there was nothing more that could be done, he left his family, who had been by his side all the way until his death on Sunday, December 13, 2009.

Larry was an ambitious and complex man.  A multi-talented individual with so many skills.  An idealist who sought from life all there was to be.  If he dreamed it, he would do it!  He lived in harmony with the earth and will be missed by nature’s animals, which he supported and provided care and protection over the years;  not to mention his own canine friends, Buddy, Blackie, Wolf and Robin.  A generous person that would help and give to any stranger in need.

His artistry is defined in the homes he completed using unique design, materials and techniques.  Larry visualized the beauty of every rock collected and carefully chose its placement.  A workshop was his place of solitude for creation and dreams.

An avid flyer, he started his aviation hobby in 1964 as a private pilot, that later became his career when it expanded to a certified flight instructor.  He was most happy in the sky, where he had the freedom of a bird and the wind beneath his wings. 

A great father and family man, he loved to plan and implement adventurous family vacations to share and enjoy, and they traveled all over the United States.  Fortunately this was done before rather than later in life as he did not have the opportunity to enjoy the Golden years.

Born on August 30, 1936 to Lottie and Hollis Hoskins;  he graduated from Adams-Friendship High School in 1954, and from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1964 as a Fine Arts major.  He was a curator, an associate game warden, worked for the National Forest Services, manager of apartment complexes, and an investor in rehabilitating buildings.  He taught in the public school system for 8 years in art education for grades 1 through 12.  For 14 years, he was employed by the State of Wisconsin Vocational Rehabilitation Dept. as a Homecraft Instructor and Counselor.

For 13 years prior to retirement, he took his flying hobby to task as a ground and flight instructor at Vincennes University, Vincennes, Indiana, where he achieved Professorship, but did not want to be called Dr. Hoskins.  The last 3 years, he developed a satellite aviation program for the University at Elkhart, Indiana and managed its progress. 

He is survived by his wife of 49 ½ years, Beth (the former Beth Janke);  two daughters, Jolene (Doug) Severson, Baraboo, and Trudy (Lance) Givens, Portage;  his pride and joy, granddaughter, Jessica Givens, who has been his “buddy”, picking up stones and watching the frogs at the pond;  a special cousin, Dr. Dean (Peg) Krueger and niece, Margaret Janke;  aunts, other cousins, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and many close friends.  He was preceded in death by his father, Hollis Hoskins in 1970, his mother, Lottie Wojtycski in June of 2009, his uncle, Robert Ward in 2008, and his in-laws, Leo and Eltha Janke.

Funeral services will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 17, 2009 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, with Pastor Alyson Janke officiating.  Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009 in Christ Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery, Greenfield Township, Sauk Co., Wisconsin.  Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage.

Memorials may be made to Columbia County Humane Society, the American Heart Association or for Parkinson’s Research.

Special thanks are extended for the wonderful attentive care provided to Larry at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Select Specialty Acute Care Hospital in Madison, and Divine Savior Hospital in Portage.

In the Memory of My Mind
Though you are gone, you are still here
In the Memory of My Mind.
I cannot see you, I cannot hear you –
But you are very much alive
In the Memory of My Mind.
The lessons we learned –
The love you gave, are with me still
No one can take away the shared joys and sorrows –
As long as you still live
In the Memory of My Mind.

 

 

 

Obituaries
For information please call 608 742-2126 (Portage, WI) or 608 635-2763 (Poynette, WI)