Larry Raunio

Larry L. Raunio of Tomahawk, WI died on July 6, 2010 after a lengthy battle from cancer. He was 62 yrs. old. Larry was born January 26, 1948 in Phelps, WI. The son of Matthew E. Raunio, Phelps and Helen R. (Raunio-Pelto) Mannisto of Tomahawk, step-son to Irma M. Raunio also of Phelps. Larry married Darlene V. Shellberg of Chicago on June 22, 1968. As a teen Larry worked in the woods and did roofing along with various other odd-jobs while growing up in Phelps - before moving to Chicago with his mother and step-father in 1964-65 where he spent his Junior year of High School only to return to Phelps for his Senior year, graduation and living with his grandparents, Ivar and Edith Mannisto in 1965-66. In August, 1965 Larry met his future wife, Darlene who was staying at her family cabin on Sugar Maple Lake in Phelps. In September 1966 after graduating high school, he moved back to Chicago starting work at Illinois Bell Telephone Co. for 10 months. In July 1967 Larry began working as a machinist while also beginning his 4-yr. apprenticeship program for machining - manual and computerized NC and CNC. Larry worked as a machinist and programmer until they bought their home in Tomahawk in August 1988. In Dec. 1990 began his employment as a machinist and later as an Inspector at HyPro, Inc. in Rhinelander for over 18 years until his cancer diagnosis in April 2009. Larry enjoyed camping, having camped and traveled through 35 states and parts of NE Canada when the children were younger, at times camping with sister Judy's family, of late with daughter Lisa's family when they would stay in an adjoining site. For more than a decade it was mostly just Larry and Darlene camping along with their all of their dogs. Larry also enjoyed hunting - especially for partridge but also deer and turkey, fishing - lately enjoying fly fishing, cutting firewood for heating the house and playing cards with the whole family. Preceding Larry in death were grandparents Ivar and Edith, parents Matt and Helen, step-mother Irma and brother-in-law Ralph Ranta. Survivors include 1 son Michael of the Milwaukee area; 1 daughter Lisa (Chris) Volkmann of Phelps; grandson Elijah Volkmann, Phelps; granddaughter Naomi Volkmann, Phelps; sister Judith (Arden) Ranta - Menge of Waupaca, WI; nephew Steve (Robbin) Ranta and their 2 girls, Jennifer & Sarah; and niece Lynn (Jon) Woller, Merrill and their 2 girls, Katie & Krista. Also surviving are 2 step-sisters, Janet and Ellen and 5 step-brothers, Wilmer, Norman, James, Galen and Mark. A Memorial Service for Larry Raunio will be held on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. from the Krueger Family Funeral Home in Tomahawk. Pastor Craig Kirsteatter of Twin Lakes Bible Church in Phelps, WI, will officiate. Burial will be in the Phelps Cemetery at a later date. The family will receive friends a the funeral home from 4 pm until the time of services at 5 pm. The family would appreciate memorials to the James Beck Cancer Center in Rhinelander.