Lyle A LaBrec
Lyle A. LaBrec, age 77 of Durand, formerly of Arkansaw, died Friday, August 6, 2010 at the Chippewa Valley Hospital in Durand with his family by his side after a long struggle with Parkinson‘s Disease.
Lyle was born on August 3, 1933 in Arkansaw on the home farm. He was the son of Charles and Amelia (Youngman) LaBrec. Lyle attended Big Arkansaw Grade School and graduated from Arkansaw High School in 1951. After high school, Lyle went to work at a refrigeration company in St. Paul and Jake Seed Corn Company in Prescott. In May of 1954, Lyle joined the U.S. Army and served during the Korean Conflict. In December of 1954, Lyle married his high school sweetheart, Darlene Cataract at St. Joseph’s Church in Arkansaw while on leave from the service. He was honorably discharged from the Army in May of 1956. After the service, Lyle returned home to farm, he also worked at Durand Canning Factory for 24 years and Weiser Concrete for 14 years. He was forced into retirement early due to his Parkinson’s disease. For the last three years, Lyle has been a resident of the Oak View Care Center in Durand.
Lyle loved to be outside, he enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, yard work, collecting model tractors, wood working projects, going for rides in the country and the occasional trip to the casino. Lyle liked to drive fancy semi-trucks, the fancier it was, the more he liked to drive it. Most of all, Lyle loved to spend time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren.
Lyle is survived by his wife of 55 years, Darlene, four children, Bobbi ( fiancé Greg Bechel) Brantner of Menomonie, Dan (Sandy) of Arkansaw, Judy Schlosser of Eau Claire and Jo (Lenis) Hince of Pepin, seven grandchildren, Ron, Teresa, Bridget (Fiancé Adam), Spencer. Tina, Lucas and Jolene, three great grandchildren, Abby, Andrew and Dawson, three brothers, Doug (Mary) of Wabasha, Elwyn (Marilyn) of DePere and Don (Mutz) of Little Chute, two sisters, Shirley Moser of Rock Falls and Delores Smith of Durand, one brother-in-law, Wayne (Arlene) Cataract of Arkansaw, sister-in-law, Eva LaBrec of Durand, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother Robert LaBrec, two sisters in infancy, two brothers-in-law, LaMoyne Moser and Earl Smith.