Larry Ronald Raschella

Passed away suddenly on Tuesday, May 23,2017, age 75.

Beloved husband and love of his life Deb. Loving and supportive dad of Jen (Kurt) Hellmann. Proud papa of 11-year-old twins, Anna and Sawyer. Further loved by many other (too many to list) beautiful family and friends.

Larry was an Army veteran who served in the 25th Infantry Division as Crew Chief of a UH1-D Huey Helicopter during the Viet Nam war conflict. He flew 200 combat missions over two years. He was awarded several service medals including, the purple heart and the Air Medal with “V” for Valor for conspicuous bravery in saving the lives of countless fellow soldiers and airmen. On May 16, 1966, he was wounded in action while flying into a “hot zone” to pick up troops.

Larry was born in West Virginia, son of Domenica (Sorrenti) and Santo Raschella. He moved to Michigan with his parents where he eventually worked in the family furniture restoration business with his mother.

In 1968 he met his wife, Deb at Pine Knob Ski Resort in Michigan, where he was employed as the ski school director. He hired his wife to become an instructor and they were married in 1970.

In 1989, Larry, Deb and their daughter moved to Wisconsin where he expanded his furniture restoration business. In addition to his restoration skills he was a master woodworker; his talent and attention to detail was legendary and continued for the rest of his life.

He had a great love for the outdoors and enjoyed traveling the world hunting, shooting and competing in skeet with his family and friends. He was an avid skeet and sporting clays shooter and a hunter education instructor for 22 years. One of his greatest joys was teaching others how to shoot and being part of the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation.

Larry’s greatest gifts were his openness to say what his heart felt to everyone he knew and making people feel good about themselves. He touched so many lives in such meaningful ways with his positive attitude, patience, compliments, encouragement and constant willingness to help someone out. He would want everyone he knew, to pay his many gifts forward to help make others’ lives better.

In lieu of flowers, the Raschella family suggests making contributions to River Glen Christian Church (www.riverglen.cc) or the Kids & Clays Foundation (kidsandclays.com) in Larry’s name.

Celebration of Life at RiverGlen Christian Church, S31 W30601 Sunset Drive, Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Friday, June 9, 2017, 2:00PM-4:00PM. Memorial Service and Military Honors to follow.