DARRELL L. LASCHEN
DARRELL L. LASCHEN
Darrell L. Laschen, a revered teacher, coach and friend from Loyal, WI, passed away peacefully in his home Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, with his wife Mary by his side. Darrell Lee Laschen was born Dec. 11, 1936, to Louis and Ruth (Rogan) Laschen in Milwaukee, WI. He grew up in Milwaukee and attended Milwaukee Pulaski High School, where he wrestled all four years and was a state runner-up. After Darrell graduated in 1956, he went on to study at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where he majored in English and physical education and continued to wrestle. Upon graduation, he went on to teach and coach at Peshtigo High School and then Middleton High School. He found his way to the Loyal School District in 1967, where he taught and was named the head wrestling coach. Darrell went on to coach many conference champions and state-qualifiers, as well as a multitude of team conference championships, state regional championships and state sectional championships. He was named to the Wisconsin Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame in 2001. In addition, Darrell successfully coached girls’ softball, winning three state championships and being named to the Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009.
Darrell married his wife, Mary Furman, June 19, 1999. With a nod to Darrell’s love of softball, they were wed on a ball diamond in Baraboo, WI, and after the ceremony, they exited under an archway of bats held by teammates and friends. Darrell and Mary resided in Loyal and shared a deep love for community involvement and for their many beloved pets. Darrell loved athletics and the outdoors, and in his retirement, he kept busy fishing, working out, playing senior softball and even recently returning to coaching at Granton High School for two years.
He will be a man who will be remembered by many as someone who was always kind and optimistic, as someone who enjoyed a good joke or prank and as someone who greatly and humbly impacted the lives of students, athletes and members of his community. Darrell will be dearly missed by his wife, Mary, of Loyal; five siblings, Larry Laschen of Mundelein, IL, Terry Laschen of Greendale, WI, Sally (Michael) Phelps of Milwaukee, WI, Sharon Luce of Kenosha, WI, and Judy Stanek of Kingsford, MI; and was also blessed with many nieces and nephews, other relatives and an abundance of close friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son from a previous marriage, Thomas L. Laschen, who passed away from cystic fibrosis at age eight in 1974; and one sister, Kathleen Laschen.
Funeral services for Darrell will be held at 12 noon Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Loyal, WI, with visitation from 9 a.m. until time of service. For those who cannot attend the service, it will be livestreamed on the church website, www.stanthonyloyal.org. Inurnment will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, at the Loyal City Cemetery, followed by a celebration of life for Darrell at the Loyal Sportsman’s Club from 2-6 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be given in Darrell’s name for a scholarship fund to be established in the near future.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.
Cuddie Funeral Home of Loyal, WI is assisting the family with arrangements.