Larry "Champ" Koenigsknecht

A man who was so easy to love, Larry J. “Champ” Koenigsknecht made a significant impact in the lives of numerous others around him. He was a hardworking man, yet he was also a firm believer in the notion that there is much more to life than work. Larry was blessed to find his true companion, Eva, with whom he shared the best years of his life. A more devoted father would be hard to find as there was nothing he wouldn’t do for the son he treasured more than life itself. Larry lived an active life as much as his health allowed, and he loved being in the great outdoors. Life will never be the same without him here, but the memories he leaves behind will remain lasting treasures to be cherished by his loved ones for years to come.

The first half of the 1940s was defined in America by our involvement in WWII overseas, however, our nation was more than ready to move forward after the war’s end in 1945. Throughout the rest of the decade we were shifting from being a nation at war to a nation at peace, and with the return of numerous servicemen and women, the baby boom was underway. It was during this exciting time of renewal that a young couple from in St. Johns, Michigan, was pleased to announce the birth of their own son, Lawrence, on August 4, 1948. He was the third of eight children born to his parents, Alfred J. and Anna Rose (Simon) Koenigsknecht, and was raised in the family home alongside his siblings, Carol, Jim, Tom, Mike, Dale, Diane, and Ken. He was a quiet and reserved boy who was never one to argue and always easygoing and laid back. The Koenigsknecht family was a close-knit group who enjoyed spending time together. Because of his warm demeanor Larry made friends with ease and was well-liked throughout his entire lifetime.

In many ways Larry experienced an upbringing that was reflective of the times. He loved to fish as a boy and often went out with his father to catch suckerfish. Larry raised rabbits as a young boy, which later grew to include a desire to raise ducks. With this in mind he made a nice enclosure and then brought his ducks home and put them right in. The only problem was that he forgot to clip their wings, so they all flew away after only a few seconds in the pen - and that was the end of that! Larry was a student at Most Holy Trinity Catholic School for eight years where he played basketball in junior high, which gave birth to his lifelong love for Michigan State University basketball. From there he went on to Fowler High School, but once he completed his tenth grade year Larry decided that he had enough school and began working at the local gas station instead.

When he was just 18 years old Larry was drafted into the military during the days of the Vietnam War. He spent the following year in a supply depot in Vietnam. With his military duties fulfilled, Larry returned home where he worked as an assemblyman at Oldsmobile.

Life was forever changed for Larry when he married in 1984. He was thrilled to welcome his adopted son, Brandon, into his heart and home when Brandon was six years old. Larry was a fantastic father who was an active part of Brandon’s life. He was very protective of his son, and in turn Brandon always knew that he was loved. Larry was also diligent in telling him to do well in school so that he could succeed in life in a way that he felt he was unable to. Although his marriage ended in divorce in 2002, Larry was forever grateful for the son they shared.

Throughout his life Larry continued to work at Oldsmobile. He was also a member of Local #652. After he retired in 2002, Larry loved all that the slower pace of retirement offered.

It was at Oldsmobile that Larry met the woman of his dreams. Her name was Eva, and although he had known her for many years it took Larry quite a bit of time to muster up enough courage to ask her out. When he did, it was to ask her out for breakfast. Right from the start Eva found Larry to be quite endearing, and she liked him immediately. She thought he was very nice, and so did her entire family. Deeply in love, Larry and Eva were married in January of 2006 in her hometown of Drew, Mississippi. Eva always thought of Larry as her big teddy bear. They enjoyed their retirement years together, doing things like traveling, fishing, and going to their cottage on Crystal Lake in Montcalm County. Taking in auctions was another one of Larry’s favorite activities as was bowling. He was a member of St. Gerard Catholic Parish as well as a member of the VFW Post #3733.

All who knew Lawrence Koenigsknecht would agree that he was truly extraordinary in every way. With a great sense of humor, his laughter was contagious to those around him. Larry had health struggles throughout his life and wasn’t one for exercising, but he lived life to the fullest each day. He adored his wife, son, and grandson, and viewed his roles as a husband, father, and grandfather to be both his highest calling and his richest reward. The timeless legacy Larry leaves behind will be proudly carried on by those who follow him.

Lawrence J. “Champ” Koenigsknecht, 64 years old, of Lansing, MI (formerly of Fowler), died on Saturday, May 11th in Lansing, Michigan. Larry’s family includes his wife, Eva; son, Brandon (Marysa Embury); grandson, Phoenix; father, Alfred Koenigsknecht (Loretta Kappler); siblings: Carol Eldridge, Jim (Marsha) Koenigsknecht, Tom (Jacque), Mike (Diane), Dale (Therese) and Diane (Brad) Hulliberger; mother-in-law, Theda Fleming; step-son, Todd Foland as well as many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and close friends. Larry was preceded in death by his mother, Anna Rose; brother, Ken; step-daughter Paula Foland-Hood; brother-in-law, Doug Eldridge; father-in-law, Jeff Fleming; nephew, Kenny; and his grandparents. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Sunday, May 12th with a rosary service at 8 p.m. and Monday, May 13th from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. with a rosary service at 3 p.m. and scripture service at 8:00 p.m. at the Osgood Funeral Home, Goerge Chapel, 11112 West Ionia Street, Fowler, MI. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, May 14th at 10:30 a.m. at Most Holy Trinity Church in Fowler, the concelebrants will be Father John Klein and Father Dennis Howard. Burial will follow at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery in Fowler. Donations may be made to the St. Gerard Educational Trust Fund, 4437 W. Willow Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917. To learn more about Larry and view his lifestory film, visit his personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/89662.