Col (Ret)Michaelj. Lauri, Sr.

COL (Ret) Michael J. Lauri, Sr., 94, passed away on Friday, February 11, 2011 at Valley View Senior Life Center in Junction City, KS.

COL. Lauri was born on October 14, 1916 in Brooklyn, NY to Massimino and Fiorina Lauri. In 1941, he entered the Army and later served as a 2nd Lt. in the Medical Administration Corps. On May 3, 1943, he was assigned to Oran, North Africa where he met Dorothy Helfrich who was also stationed there as an army nurse. When the war was over, they returned to the United States and were married in Pleasantville, NJ on August 19, 1945. COL. and Mrs. Lauri became parents to five children: Michael, Jr., Christine, Harry, Gregory, and Rosemary. During his thirty years of military service, COL. Lauri was stationed with his family in Austria, Italy, and New Orleans. In addition to his service during World War II, he also served in Korea and Vietnam before retiring as a Colonel in 1971 while stationed at Fort Riley, KS.

Upon retirement from the military service, COL. Lauri served as the Assistant Administrator at Geary Community Hospital, retiring in 1983. He was an active member of the Disabled American Veterans and served as the Commander of the Pearl Harbor Chapter 16 in Junction City. He was also a member of the Sundowners Lions Club and St. Xavier Catholic Church. COL. Lauri enjoyed playing the piano and singing with the Troubadours.

COL. Lauri spent a great amount time actively involved in the lives of his children and eight grandchildren. Grandpa Lauri, as he was referred to, became the adopted grandpa of many of his own grandchildren's friends. He attended countless dance recitals, pageants, athletic events, and his grandchildren's school activities. He was a generous man who always went out of his way to make others feel important and loved.

He is survived by his sons Michael Lauri, Jr. and wife Mary of Granite City, IL; Harry Lauri and wife Gail of Olathe, KS; one daughter, Rosie Kane and husband Steve of Junction City, KS; son-in-law John Davis, of Junction City, KS; eight grandchildren: Jeff Davis, Laura Monteiro, Michelle Tweet, Andrea Foxworthy, Amy Bailey, Erin Hughes, Stefanie Kane, and Michael Lauri; and six great-grandchildren: Alaina, Mikayla, Eleanore, Emma, Lauren, and Anson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; son, Gregory; daughter, Christine; his parents, two brothers, and three sisters.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at St. Xavier Catholic Church with Father Al Brungardt officiating. Burial will follow at Fort Riley Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will also be held at St. Xavier Catholic Church on Monday, February 14, 2011, from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. with vigil service at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions have been designated to the St. Xavier Catholic School, P.O. Box 399, Junction City, KS 66441.