Lawrence Lotza
Lawrence Sylvester Lotza was born December 13, 1942, in Monona to Anna (Kottman) and Sylvester Lotza. Lawrence, 81 years old, passed away April 27, 2024, at Veterans Memorial Hospital, Waukon with his wife Jan by his side. He passed peacefully from a heart condition that he had been struggling with this past year.
Visitation will be Friday, May 10 from 4-7 p.m. at First Baptist Church, located at 614 Rossville Road, Waukon. Funeral service will be the next day, Saturday, May 11, at the same location at 11 a.m.
He attended Beulah Country School and graduated from Monona-Farmersburg High School in 1960. He farmed and married Janice Schlein August 26, 1962. To this union they have one daughter, Deborah (Deb Dennler), born June of 1963.
In 1967 they moved to Monona and lived there for 20 years. Lawrence was a meat cutter for Wilke’s Grocery for four years, then a plant manager for Monona Wire, and finally was a security officer for 25 years at 3M in Prairie Du Chien, WI until his retirement.
Lawrence’s first love was farming, and in 1987 he purchased the Hazlett Farm. The farm originally belonged to the Hazlett family since the Civil War.
God blessed Lawrence and Jan with two grandsons, Ryan in 1982 and Brant in 1984. They lived for their grandsons, they were their sunshine. They were then blessed with three great-grandkids, Gavin, Aiden, and Isabel Schoulte.
In his spare time, he enjoyed antiquing, attending many Ray Sweeney auctions, and playing cards with friends. He loved “Watson Tractor Rides” and took both great-grandsons on the “buddy seat” of his 2510 John Deere. This past July, he was proud to have three of his six John Deere tractors on the Watson Ride.
Over the years he was active in the Church. He also volunteered at the Monona Museum, which he appreciated very much. He always valued the history of our community.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sylvester and Anna Lotza; his in-laws, William and Martina Schlein; his grandson, Ryan Schoulte, and a brother-in-law, Jackie Schlein.
Lawrence is survived by his wife of 61 years, Jan; his daughter, Deb (Dwayne) Dennler; his grandson, Brant Schoulte; and his great-grandchildren, Gavin, Aiden, and Isabel Schoulte.
