Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
MARENISCO, Mich. - Patrick "Pat" LaRock, 81, of Marenisco, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, at home with his family by his side.
Pat was born on Nov. 11, 1942, in Wakefield to Frank and Marjorie LaRock.
He was a graduate of Marenisco High School with the class of 1961.
From 1961 to 1964, he proudly served in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles division. After the army, he worked at Kimberly Clark, White Pine Copper Mine, Haapala Construction, Norco Windows and Northern Waters Casino.
He was a member of the Marenisco Volunteer Fire Department and Marenisco Ambulance Service. He was a proud member of American Legion Post 523 and was serving on the Gogebic County Council of Veterans' Affairs at the time of his passing.
He spent many seasons at "hillbilly heaven," the hunting camp he helped build with family and great friends, the Charles and Ryskeys.
On Jan. 29, 1966, he was united in marriage to Karen Rye at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Ironwood.
Pat is survived by his wife of 58 years, Karen; a daughter, Judith (George) Beninghaus; son, Curtis (Amy) LaRock; sister, Darlene "Bid" Weisinger; sister-in-law, Verlynn Rye; brothers-in-law, Wallace Faltinowski and Albert Rye; grandchildren, James Now, Heather Now, Andrea Beninghaus, Kristy (Billy) Cole, Scott (Corin Kelly) LaRock and Allison LaRock; great-grandchildren, Thomas and Wyatt Cole, and Oaklie Now; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Myron, Kenneth and Donald; sister, Shirley Faltinowski; brother-in-law, David Rye; sisters-in-law, Lavera, Elizabeth "Liz," Doris LaRock, and MaryAnne Rye; and nieces Cindy Steinmetz and Jody Johnson.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Marenisco Town Hall at 1 p.m. Military Rites will be given by members of Marenisco American Legion Post 523.
Interment will be at the Marenisco Township Cemetery in the spring.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hildebrand-Russ Funeral Home of Rhinelander, Wisconsin.