Remembering Larry R. Pasbach, Sr.

Lawrence (Larry) Robert Pasbach, Sr. died peacefully in sleep on Sunday, October 15, 2023. In his last days, he was surrounded and comforted by loving family. Larry was a doting husband, father, grandfather, friend, and son of Christ. In his passing, he is reunited with his beloved wife and sweetheart, Mary Lou (Johnson).

The book of Larry’s life is voluminous, and is a story worth retelling. His ambition at a young age helped launch him into a fulfilling life of work and of service. As a young man, he’d find himself on a blind date that would lead to life-long love and a family legacy that will continue to write his history for decades to come. He had a genuine desire for connection with people: he fostered many deep and lasting friendships, and would take time to shoot the breeze with anyone he crossed paths with. Near the very end, even though his body had slowed, his mind was still sharp. He recalled distant memories with acuity, and he kept making us laugh. He always made sure we knew that we were loved.

His Life & Background.

Larry was born on April 9, 1929, in Grand Rapids, MI, to parents Margaret J. (Grass) Pasbach and Albert (“Bert”) William Pasbach. He shared his childhood with two older sisters, Patricia Pasbach and Rosemary (Pasbach) Koster.

Larry’s drive was determined at a young age. At 8 years old, he began work as a paper delivery boy, acquiring 60 customers and eventually climbing the ranks to main distributor. In high school, he drove a bakery (Muller’s) delivery truck, and later worked at a lumber yard loading lumber. He graduated from Grand Rapid’s Catholic Central high school (Cougars) in 1947, where he played football, basketball, and ran track.

After high school, Larry moved to Washington, D.C., where he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which he would later say was one of the proudest roles of his life. He started as a messenger in the Director’s (Hoover) office, and later was a file reviewer, reportedly having access to every file in the Bureau (except Hoovers!). He later supervised the Teletype, Switchboard, and “Code Room” for the FBI, and then finally began service as an agent. Meanwhile, Larry attended George Washington University to study business. To balance his work and academic obligations, Larry took the midnight shift in the Code Room so he could study and conduct file review. He would later obtain a B.S. in accounting from Marquette University, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

During his service with the FBI, Larry was asked (or as he might say, “strong-armed”) by a friend to go on a blind date. Little did Larry realize that he’d be introduced to his love and life-long partner, Mary Lou Johnson of Lincoln, NE. The two couples spent time together at Rehoboth Beach, DE., that day. Larry and Mary were later married on January 14, 1950, and initially lived together in North Arlington, VA. They had five children: Bob, William (Bill), Margaret (Peggy), Claudia, and Diana.

Larry’s work with the FBI would relocate him and the family to Butte, MT; Idaho Falls, ID; and later to West Chicago, IL. In 1958, while living in Illinois, Larry and Mary entered into a raffle benefiting the Sister of St. Joseph of La Grange Park. They later learned that they were the grand winners of the “Harvest House;” a new, fully-furnished, two story brick home located at 30th and Forest, in La Grange Park. Mary and their (at the time) 4 children are pictured in a few newspaper articles about winning the house (Larry wasn’t pictured due to FBI policy). Larry went on to work for the FBI for 13 years.

After retirement from the FBI, Larry worked for American Photo Equipment Company (APECO) in Evanston, IL., serving as national branch manager and later general sales manager. He was later employed with Chemigraphics in NJ (Vice-President); and Lindenmeyer Paper Corp.

While residing in NJ, Larry and Mary bought “the Boonton house” on Rockaway Street in 1967. He volunteered locally as trustee at the Riverside Hospital, member of the Parish Council of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, member of the Boonton Juvenile Conference Committee, and was elected President of the Boonton Kiwanis club. He delivered food with Meals on Wheels.

To complement their life in Boonton, Larry and Mary purchased a lake house on Sylvan Lake in Hunlock Creek, PA, in 1985. After retirement in, Larry and Mary sold the Boonton house and moved full-time to the Lake. The Lake House was a particularly beloved location of Larry’s family, especially his grandchildren. Countless memories were made there of playing in “the fort” by the stream, blueberry picking at Lake Jean, feeding the ducks, sleeping in the “summer house”, the annual Lake Association picnic, and fishing and swimming on the lake. Larry also enjoyed the lake and open water. He and Mary kept a few boats and a “floating island” over the years that got good use from visitors.

Knowing Larry & his Family Legacy.

Larry was often involved in social endeavors with friends or family. He went on many fishing trips, including an annual “guys’” fishing trip with his sons, sons-in-laws and grandsons-in-law. He dabbled in golf, but apparently never impressed anyone by it: at one tournament, instead of a trophy, Larry was awarded with a tennis racket. When he wasn’t socializing, he kept himself busy around the house. His success with home projects was varied, and consequently, gave himself plenty of opportunities for a good razzing by family and friends. He once forgot to plug the motor boat on the initial summer launch, and almost sunk the boat. After burning brush in the backyard got out of his control, it accidentally fire to a daughter and son-in-law’s canoe. Though it wasn’t like him to cut corners in life, he unwittedly sliced through a couple picnic benches while using them as sawhorses to cut up some lumber.

Larry’s proudest achievement was his children. He also took great joy in witnessing his grandchildren grow and have children of their own. When he arrived at family visits, Grandpa was often accosted by a giggly bunch of grandchildren, who adored him. Larry’s pride in his family was evident. Though he was the life of many family parties, you could often catch him in quiet observation and awe of the boisterous scene.

Larry leaves a growing legacy of love and endless warm memories. He is survived by Bob and Frannie (Hall) Pasbach; Peggy (Pasbach) and David Elliott, Claudia (Pasbach) and George Gonda; & Diana (Pasbach) and John Thorn. In his death, he is also reunited with his son, Bill, and grandchildren Amy and Christina. Together, Mary and Larry enjoyed 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Services and Memorial Information

Viewings will be held on Friday, November 3 from 6:00-8:00PM at White Chapel Funeral Home in Liberty. Mass will be held at 11:00AM on Saturday, November 4 at [church name/address], with a brief viewing beforehand.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions in Larry’s name be made to The City Mission of Waterbury, Connecticut, toward its Free Food Program for families facing food insecurity. The City Mission is run by Larry’s grandson and granddaughter-in-law (Troy and Meghan Gonda) and share Larry’s passion to feed and assist individuals facing difficulty.

Donations are welcomed online (link below) and by mail.

www.yourcitymission.org/pasbach

The City Mission, Inc.

PO Box 11256

Waterbury, CT 06703