Elroy Lawrence Bastian
Elroy
Lawrence Bastian, age 87, a resident of the Lutheran Home and Health Services,
was called to his Heavenly Home on Monday, March 16, 2015. As staff at the nursing home would attest,
Elroy and his wife, Audrey, would often be seen holding hands. So it was only fitting that as Elroy passed
away, they held hands while Audrey prayed the Lord’s Prayer.
Elroy and
Audrey were high school sweethearts.
They met while attending Milwaukee Lutheran High School. Elroy graduated early to join the Navy during
World War II. He was stationed on the
West coast aboard a destroyer tender, the U.S.S. Frontier. Following Elroy’s safe return home, they were
engaged while riding on a streetcar, sitting in the same seat they always
chose. They were wed at Emmaus Lutheran
Church on the beautiful wintry evening of December 28, 1946. They had a daughter, Cheryl, and many years
later, a son, Todd.
Elroy began
his life in Milwaukee where he was born to Erich and Mildred Bastian on May 20,
1927. He was the little brother to three
loving sisters: Jean, Lois and Eileen.
Throughout
his life, Elroy primarily worked in the glass business —first working for
others; eventually working alongside his son at their own Plymouth Glass
Company. He resided in Milwaukee,
Racine, Brookfield, Oshkosh, Elkhart Lake/Crystal Lake area, Plymouth and Fond
du Lac. Being involved in his church, Kiwanis, Lions Club, American Legion, the
Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, etc. were an everyday part of his life. Elroy definitely believed in donating time to
community service and to giving assistance to others.
Elroy was a
modern day Renaissance man. He was a
talented artist who could draw anything.
He designed storefronts and buildings with precision before the use of
computers. He loved to dance with his
wife. They were often the last ones off
the dance floor at weddings. He played
the piano and can be remembered for playing a simple song that has been learned
now by his great-granddaughters. He
loved music to the depth of his soul. An
avid history buff, he read extensively, especially about the Civil War and
World War II. Fishing with his
father-in-law and brothers-in-law was a ritual he treasured. Most close to Elroy’s heart was his time with
family, especially his long-awaited grandson, Nicholas!
Elroy is
survived by his wife, Audrey; daughter, Cheryl Clark; son, Todd (Melanie),
granddaughters, Jennifer (Jim) Taylor and Heather (Eric) Reilley; grandson,
Nicholas; step-granddaughter, Shani Quinn; step-grandson, Jeff (Patty) Clark;
great-granddaughters Allison Taylor, Abigail Taylor, Emily Taylor, Megan
Taylor, Lauren Taylor, Katelyn Reilley and Madelyn Reilley;step-grandchildren,
Brennan Quinn, Michaela Quinn, Rachel Clark, and Angelina Clark; sister, Eileen
Olson; sisters-in-law, Arlene (Wayne) Protzmann, Diana Hollfelder, Elaine
(Ronald) Londre, and Kathy Schmoller.
Elroy was
preceded in death by: his parents, his sister, Jean and her husband, Syl
Greuel; his sister, Lois and her husband, Vern Wachter; his brothers-in-law,
Marvin Olson, Wally Schmoller, and Frank Hollfelder; his son-in-law, Orv Clark,
and numerous other beloved family members.
A small
private service was held at the Lutheran Home.
Burial services will be held at the gravesite in Bayfield, Wisconsin (or
as Elroy would refer to Bayfield, “God’s country.”)
Zacherl
Funeral Home is assisting the family.www.zacherlfuneralhome.com