Lawrence John Horkan, Rockford, IL/Milton & Edgerton  (1948 - 2010)

July 20, 1948 - March 16, 2010
Lawrence John Horkan, of Rockford, IL, passed away March 16, 2010, after a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis, and after receiving a single lung transplant in December 2009. He was born on July 20, 1948, in Edgerton, WI, to the late John & Ethel (Boss) Horkan. He was a 1966 graduate of Milton High School. Following high school he worked as a machine tool apprentice prior to enlisting in the military. Sergeant Horkan served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, and was a recipient of the Bronze Star for his heroism in action. While serving as a section chief of a 105mm howitzer near Chu Lai, he suffered a shrapnel wound and was awarded the Purple Heart. After his discharge he fulfilled a lifelong dream of racing his modified stock car in the Southeastern Wisconsin region during the 1970s. While working for Gilman Engineering in Janesville, WI, he met his future wife, Nadia, on a work project in Russia. They were married on Sept. 21, 1978, in Ufa, Russia, and had two children, Nicholas and Sheila. After earning his bachelor's degree, Larry steadily progressed in the machine tool industry, first as National Service Manager for DeVlieg Bullard, and ending his career as Vice-President of Meritage National Service. He was a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), V.F.W., Vietnam Veterans of America, and the Vintage Modified Stock Car Club. He loved playing with his two grandchildren and was an avid outdoorsman.
He is survived by his wife, Nadia of Rockford, IL; his son, Nicholas (Angie) Horkan of Milton, WI; his daughter, Sheila Horkan of Middleton, WI; his sister, Patricia Horkan of Franklin, WI; his grandchildren, Tyler & Kayla Horkan of Milton; his yellow lab, Junior; and many relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be at 12 noon on Saturday, March 20, 2010, at ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH IN JANESVILLE, with a burial and Military Rites, conducted by the V.F.W. Kienow-Hilt Post #1621, immediately following the service at the Milton Cemetery.
A visitation will be held on Friday, March 19, from 5 until 7 p.m. at the WHITCOMB-LYNCH-ALBRECHT FUNERAL HOME, MILTON, 828 S. Janesville St., Milton, and from 11 a.m. until the start of the service at the CHURCH on Saturday.
Larry was a devoted husband, loving father and grandfather. He will be missed greatly by all those whose lives he touched.
WHITCOMB-LYNCH-ALBRECHT FUNERAL HOMES, INC.
828 S. Janesville St., Milton, 608-868-2542
www.whitcomb-lynch-albrecht.com