Lawrence Henry Dubé

Lawrence Henry Dube’, born March 22nd, 1935, went home to be with the Lord on May 17th, 2020, due to complications from dementia, as well as COVID-19. He was 85 years old.

Lawrence or “Larry” as most knew him, led an incredibly interesting life. He entered the United States Air Force at 19 years old, and spent 10 years as a fighter pilot, during which time he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism and extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight. He later went on to become a United Airlines captain, spending nearly 22 years with the airline flying domestically. Although he retired from commercial flight in 1986, he continued to keep his pilot’s license active for another 10 years, flying for Kenosha Aero and later, private planes for Racine Flame Spray, where he was also a salesman. While at Racine Flame Spray, he invented a device that effectively measured the coating thickness on paper mill machines, which he called a “Traction Analyzer“; for this invention, he was issued a United States Patent in 1995.

In his later years, he was honored to drive limousines transporting cancer patients and their families to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Zion, Illinois.

Larry adored his family. He is survived by his wife, Janet (nee Simons) Dube’, and his children – Miles Dube’, Christin (Kuretich) Dube', Timothy Dube’, and Sarah (Skoric) Dube’, and four grandchildren – Bradley Dube’, Sarah Dube’, ZoeDube’, and Zakariah Dube’. He was also loved greatly by histwo sons-in-law, David Kuretich and Vladimir Skoric.

Larry was a jokester and always had a mischievous grin and a twinkle in his eye to let you in on the joke. His phrases and stories will live on through his children, who are proud to call him their Dad. Larry also loved animals; they always brought him so much joy, especially in his elder years. He was a devoted and loving grandpa to three furry family members – Harris Kuretich (Vizsla), Lady Violet Mopsy Skoric (bunny) and Ravioli Skoric (bunny).

Due to the current quarantine, Celebration of Life services for Lawrence H. Dube’ will be held at a later date to be determined. His daughters, who served as his legal guardians for the last three years of his life, will arrange a memorial to honor him when they are able. In leui of flowers, donations can be made to The Alzheimers Association.