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Obituaries

Obituary: Laraine J. "Larry" Griswold

Laraine J. "Larry" Griswold, 93 of Yorkville, died Saturday.

Larson-Nelson Funeral Home provided the following obituary:

Laraine J. “Larry” Griswold, age 93 of Yorkville, IL passed away on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at the Hillside Rehab and Care Center in Yorkville, IL. He was born on December 9, 1918 in Kendall County, IL the son of Wayne J. and Kate (Vilmin) Griswold.

Larry was united in marriage on June 16, 1962 in St. John’s Catholic Church in Somonauk, IL to the former Miss Marian Hann and they spent the next 50 happy years together. Mr. Griswold served his country proudly with the United States Army/Air Force during World War II and obtained the rank of Master Sergeant. He was deployed to Africa and later to Italy where he was a Crew Chief on a B-24 bomber. Larry received the Soldier’s Medal for disconnecting a refueling hose from his plane’s wing when a gas truck caught on fire. It was while serving in Italy, he and several army buddies were granted an audience with the Pope. After returning to civilian life, he went to work at his uncle’s store on North River Street in Aurora, IL, eventually purchasing it and then it became Griswold Feed & Seed Store. Later he built a new store on First Street which is now Prairie Street in downtown Aurora, IL which he continued to own and operate for the next 67 years. He was a longtime member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Yorkville, IL as well as the Knights of Columbus. Larry was always full of fun, loved to dance and dearly loved spending time with his family and friends. He was also an avid bowler, enjoyed playing Euchre and gardening. Larry was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle who will be deeply missed by all that knew him.

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Larry is survived by his wife, Marian Griswold of Yorkville, IL; his children, Stephen (Tracy Mackintosh) Griswold, their children, Sarah and Elizabeth Griswold of Aurora, IL and her sons, Andrew Mackintosh of Aurora, IL and Christopher Mackintosh of Chicago, IL;  Timothy Griswold of Yorkville, IL; and Mary (fiancé, Nate Harris) Kunold  and his children, Brooklyn and Kaitlyn Harris of Millington, IL; his sisters, Leona Meade of AZ, Marcella Johnson of Sandwich, IL and Marian Hester of Oswego, IL; his sister-in-law, Betty Griswold (Gerald’s widow) of North Aurora, IL; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Kate Griswold; his brothers, Claude and Gerald Griswold; his sister and brother-in-law, Alberta and Pat Braffet; as well as his brothers-in-law, Vernon Meade, Howard Johnson and Richard Hester.

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A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, October 11, 2012 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 406 Walnut Street in Yorkville, IL with Father Michael Callea, M.I.C., officiating. Interment will follow in St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Somonauk, IL.

Friends may visit from 3:00 until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at the Larson-Nelson Funeral Home, 410 East Countryside Parkway in Yorkville, IL.

Memorials in Larry’s name may be directed to St. Patrick Catholic Church, 406 Walnut Street, Yorkville, IL 60560 or Open Door Rehabilitation Center, 405 South Wells Street, Sandwich, IL 60548.

Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Homes & Crematory, www.NelsonFuneralHomes.com or (630) 553-7611.

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