Obit: Asselin, Lavern Arthur "Pete" (1922 - 2009)

Contact:: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 

Surnames: Asselin, Bobb, Zukowski, Cox, Knapp, Olinski
 

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) October 21, 2009
 

Asselin, Lavern Arthur "Pete" (14 July 1922 - 18 October 2009) With Flag

Lavern A. "Pete" Asselin, age 87, of Thorp, passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2009 at Luther Hospital in Eau Claire.
 

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 23, 2009 at Thorp Funeral Home in Thorp, with Rev. George Olinski officiating.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, from 9:30 a.m. until time of service.

Lavern Arthur Asselin was born on July 14, 1922 in Thorp, WI, the son of Edward and Annie (Bobb) Asselin.  He was raised and received his education in Thorp, graduating from Thorp High School in 1941.  Pete then went to Wichita, KS and completed a 6-month course at Swallow Aircraft School.  He worked at North American Aviation, in Kansas City, KS, on a production line and later as an inspector. 

Pete enlisted in the U. S. Navy on October 8, 1942 and was assigned to PPY Squadron "Fleet Airway 1" and was stationed on Hill New Island off of new Caledonia in the South Pacific.   In December of 1945, he was assigned to Glenview Naval Air Station, in Glenview, IL, until his honorable discharge on January 8, 1946.

Pete then moved back home to Thorp, and went to work with his father and brothers, Gay and Chub, in the family business, Thorp Bottling Company.  He was united in marriage to Dorothy Antonette Zukowski on December 28, 1949 at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church in Thorp.  They lived in Thorp and Pete continued working at the bottling company until 1987, when he and his brother Gay, sold the business and retired.  He continued to live in Thorp with his wife, and operated a snow plowing business in the winter.

Pete had many interests, but especially enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling, gardening and the casinos.  He was a member of the Thorp American Legion, had served on the Thorp Fire Department for many years and was a previous board member on the Thorp City Council.

He will be dearly missed by his son, Randy (Patricia) Asselin of Fernandina Beach, FL; his daughter, Julie (Keith) Cox of Collierville, TN; two grandsons: Justin Cox and Tyler Knapp; one great-granddaughter, Elise Knapp; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
 

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy, on March 13, 2003; and two brothers: Gerald "Gay" and Lyle "Chub" Asselin.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiegh.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Thorp American Legion.

Thorp Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.