10/16/2026
Lawrence Koltz
Lawrence D Koltz of Erin, WI, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away at Angel’s Grace Hospice on Wednesday October 7, 2026 at the age of 85.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Mary Ellen; his son’s David & Nicholas, his daughter JoEllen Kelley; his cherished grandchildren, Zachary & Charlie; and many extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry & Emily, and his brothers Ronald & Michael.
Larry was born in Milwaukee on January 22, 1941 to Harry and Emily Koltz, and would grow up surrounded by his older brother Ron and his younger brother Mike. Originally growing up in Milwaukee, Larry and the Koltz’s later moved to Lake Keesus and graduated from Hartland Arrowhead High School in 1958. Larry, like his brothers, loved Arrowhead. Watching the Warhawks in the WIAA state football finals on the Friday night of deer camp was a tradition. One of Larry’s favorite stories was when his teacher and basketball Coach Al Vandertie asked Larry “if he played roundball.” Larry responded that he didn’t. Coach Vandertie responded “well you will if you want to pass this class!” And so it was that Larry played basketball and finished as the varsity team’s third-leading scoring his senior year. Larry also played football, was in the rod & gun club, and was the senior Homecoming King at Arrowhead.
He next attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering, where he graduated third in his class and received a Mechanical Engineering degree with honors in 1962. He was a proud Raider and wore his MSOE hat until the day he passed. After graduating, Larry went on to work at Wisconsin Centrifugal (which later became Metaltek), in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Starting as a mechanical engineer, he would eventually retire as a Vice President. While at Centrifugal, Larry invented an apparatus for welding metals and was awarded a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Larry loved his children, his parents, and his brothers. His kids’ successes meant the world to him, and he took great pride in telling others about them. Most of all, however, he immensely loved his wife Mary Ellen whom he considered his soulmate. Larry and Mary Ellen spent time together at the family cabin on Miller Lake in northern Wisconsin; they hunted together; they went to parties together; and Mary Ellen made Larry incredible food (her love language). In short, they were best friends and inseparable.
Larry loved daily hikes with Max (his canine Schnoodle little buddy). He was a consummate story teller, and loved to regale others with stories of his youth on Lake Keesus, fishing adventures, his great friends such as Dick Dvorak, Ron Rellatz, and Dick Kaiser, cars that he and his brothers had souped-up (and sometimes crashed), and ridiculous work projects the Koltz boys had undertaken with their father Harry such as hand-digging and constructing a foundation and basement under an existing cottage. There was no job too tough for him, he leaned into hard work, and loved a job well done.
Family trips were common, and slinging snowballs in late June in the Tetons was one of his favorite memories. Late November meant deer camp, sitting in tree stands entirely too far off of the ground, a lot of far-fetched hunting stories, and putting up with Hank & Tom’s sarcasm (which Larry served out just as well as he received). Larry would say later in life that some of the times in his life when he laughed the hardest were with his brothers, sons, nephews, and friends at deer camp at Miller Lake.
Larry loved the outdoors. He hunted, fished, hiked, and in general had a great respect for the land. And so, it should come as no surprise that under Larry’s leadership his Lake Association challenged a potential discharge of effluent into Miller Lake and won a solid victory to protect his home waters.
He was very proud of his co-workers at Wisconsin Centrifugal/MetalTek and he considered them lifelong friends. He always looked forward to good ‘campfire discussion’ with an Abbey Triple in hand, Christmas time with family, and spoiling his kids.
Larry’s fight with Alzheimer’s was a tough one, but you can’t keep a good man down. And so, at 6:35am on Wednesday October 7, 2026, he was freed from the wicked disease and was welcomed home in Heaven. October 7 also happens to be his younger brother’s birthday and so it is assumed that with birthday cake and ice cream waiting for him, he wasn’t going to delay the opportunity to celebrate with Mike and the rest of family.
Larry’s celebration of life will be held on Saturday November 14 at Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish (W314 N7462 WI-83, Hartland, WI 53029). Visitation will be from 9:30am-11:00am, Mass at 11:00am, and lunch to follow. Please contact Nick Koltz with any questions at 715-558-1286.
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