Larry Lynn “The LarWolf” Linus Loviska passed away Sunday, March 31, 2024.
Larry began his too-brief-time on this earth on June 24, 1960 in Cedar Springs, Michigan. Born to Francis and Connie Loviska, Larry was raised to be as strong, independent, and hardworking as his parents-something he never fell short of accomplishing.
Larry grew up the middle brother in a large household of four other brothers (Joe, Bill, Jerry, and John), and one sister, Laura. Beyond them, there were always other kids around as Francis and Connie were foster parents. In the mix of all this, Larry grew up an avid reader, a hard runner, a bike lover, a dedicated paper boy, and an active Boy Scout.
Oscillating between St. Margaret’s School and Otsego Public Schools, Larry ultimately graduated from Otsego High School in 1978. While in high school, Larry ran on both the track and cross country teams, and co-captained the cross country team to state finals his senior year.
In between running, becoming an Eagle Scout, and working as a gas station attendant throughout high school, Larry somehow managed to amass quite a group of friends. In fact, he was most in his element when he was hanging out, working on cars, or going to concerts with them.
It was at this time that he met the woman with whom he would start a family, Pamela Darling (now Marsh), who also went to Otsego High School.
After graduating, Larry packed up his prized 1971 Plymouth Barracuda and moved to Big Rapids, MI to earn his Associate’s Degree in Welding from Ferris State University. Larry thrived at FSU where he studied hard, partied harder, and still managed to come home to Otsego on weekends to work as a maintenance welder at Otsego Machine Shop, where he worked until 1985.
After Larry graduated from Ferris, he and Pam married at St. Margaret’s Church in Otsego, Ml. Over the next few years, Larry worked at a variety of machine shops before starting Loviska Welding Service, which in turn would become Allynn Corporation, affectionately simply called “The Shop.”
While Allynn Corporation was certainly his baby, it was at this time that he and Pam had actual babies — Alexandra in 1987, Jacob in 1989, and Luke in 1993. Larry loved his kids more than anything in the world and often referred to them as “the greatest thing he ever did,” but, Larry being Larry, also regularly called them his “rotten kids,” or affectionately, his “Wolfpups.”
Larry’s devotion to his children was unwavering and unmatched. He attended every imaginable game, recital, play, graduation, and wedding without fail. Everything in his power to give his kids a better life than him, he did… and did so happily and without hesitation.
Larry loved so much of life, but two of his biggest enjoyments were travel and riding his motorcycle. He established in the early 2000’s that his family was indeed a Triumph family with his purchase of a Speedmaster, while his brother, John, went with an America.
Regardless of whether it was a camping trip to South Manitou, a spring break Florida trip with his favorite daughter and their friends, a bike trip with his motorcycle group, or going to Europe with his family, Larry loved exploring the world and seeing everything from Michigan sand dunes, to the Cliffs of Mohr in Ireland, to traveling to Prague in honor of his heritage.
In 2000 Larry began what would turn out to be, arguably, the most important chapter of his career in the role of educator. While he had gotten a taste of teaching in the late 1980’s when he briefly taught a night class for welding at KVCC, he began his career as an educator, in earnest, at Branch Area ISD Career Center (BACC). Larry turned a defunct welding program into one of the most successful and awarded programs in the state.
Though finally a full-time teacher, Larry was always a student. While teaching at BACC he proudly earned both his teaching degree (from FSU) and a Master of Arts in Education at WMU.
He was exceedingly devoted to his students and routinely went out of his way to make sure they didn’t just receive an education for employment, but an education for their entire life. He cared for his students beyond the classroom walls — from buying clothes for those who couldn’t, to helping find housing for those who needed it — Larry did more than nurture minds. He was always proud to talk about his students who made it to state welding competitions and what great jobs they had gotten just after graduation.
In addition to leading students, he tirelessly served as the President of the Teacher’s Union of Branch Intermediate Organization (BIO)- where he fought for fairness and equity for all who served within BACC.
Larry became a fixture of the Coldwater community, doing everything from volunteering for local charity events, to making a class project by creating Christmas decorations for the downtown light poles. He literally lit up the Coldwater streets.
While he was often in and around Kalamazoo to spend time with his family and friends, Larry built a life for himself in Coldwater that was made ever better by meeting his partner of 10 years, Carolyn Youssef.
Larry loved Carolyn deeply and spent the last decade of his life becoming a part of her life, along with her children Anissa, Hannah, and Anthony. She will forever be his Ladyfriend, his preferred moniker for her as she was more than just a girlfriend.
Larry moved to Coldwater Lake in 2017 and for more than 7 years, he has texted a group that includes his Ladyfriend, his Wolfpups, and their partners every couple of weeks a picture of the sunset. At the end of the day, Larry loved nothing more than sitting on his chair outside, cracking a Two-Hearted, watching the sun go down on the horizon of Coldwater Lake, and sharing his contentment and authentic joy with the people he loved.
Larry is survived by his children Alexandra Loviska (Eddie Nantis), Jacob Loviska (Ellen Jarl), and Luke Loviska (Marissa DePumpo), his mother Connie Loviska, his siblings, William Loviska, John Loviska, and Laura Loviska, and his loving life partner, Carolyn Youssef and her children Anissa, Hannah, and Anthony.
Services are being held at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 723 US Hwy 27 N, Marshall, Michigan 49068 Saturday, April 6, 2024 with a visitation at 1:30 p.m, memorial service beginning at 2:00 p.m., and a Celebration of Life immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Larry Loviska Welding Scholarship Fund through Branch Area Career Center, with envelopes available at the funeral home.
Also, please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, sign the online guest book or to leave the family condolences.
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