Lawrence Dean Cross

Lawrence “Larry” Dean Cross, age 88, of DeTour Village, Michigan passed from this life on March 15, 2022, at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. Larry was born on September 10, 1933, in DeTour Township to Edward Earl Cross and Bernice “Blanche” (Zwolinski) Cross.

Larry’s early years were spent near Goetzville, in Raber Township and in Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. At age 14, his family moved to DeTour Village. Larry graduated from DeTour High School in 1951 where he played basketball and football. On August 29, 1953, he was married to Myrtice Joy LaMere at Sacred Heart Church in DeTour Village and was a devoted husband until her passing in May 2010.

Larry worked on Great Lakes ships for several seasons, served in the U.S. Army, and then worked at the Detour Dock Company until it closed in 1976. He retired from the EUPTA as a deckhand on the Drummond Island Ferry. For over 20 years, he bowled at Dondee Lanes in the Soo with the Fred’s Bar team. He ran in many area road races, and at age 50, completed the Detroit Marathon. Larry was a devout Catholic and member of Sacred Heart Church.

He liked growing vegetables, making and smoking Polish sausage, creating awesome pots of soup, and watching sports and soap operas. He used his trusty iPad to stay current with sports scores, Great Lakes shipping, DeTour Village news, and the events of his children and grandchildren. Above all, he cherished his family and valued his many friendships.

Larry will be remembered with much love by his children, Debbie (Michael) Desrochers of Nashville, Michigan; Larry (Cathy) Cross of Wyoming, Michigan; Lori (Randy) Kleiman of Escanaba, Michigan; Donna (Joe) Barrette of DeTour; Janet Cross Woods of Harbor Springs, Michigan; Jayne Cross Papandreou (Allan Shiffrin) of Oak Park, Illinois; and Richard (Michele) Cross of Tecumseh, Michigan. Also, grandchildren, Christina (Michael) Tesch, Terry (Sherry Farr) and Joey (Molly Adams) Desrochers; Katie (Justin) Wierenga, Becky (Kevin) Sefcovic, Michael (Britni Bredeweg) Cross; Lauren (Bo) Schumacher; Jaime (Dustin) Gibbons, Joe (Stephanie) Barrette; Lindsay (Jeff Hauch) Fussman; Jack and Ella Papandreou; and Justin, Brendan, and Madison Cross. Great-grandchildren, Reese, Quinn, and Penelope Tesch; Winnie Wierenga; Cambree and Barrette Gibbons; Abbie and Lily Sloan, and Bentley Barrette; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtice; brothers, Jim and Ray Cross; son-in-law, Ross Woods; his parents; and parents-in-law, Jewell and Wilda (Bailey) LaMere.

Visitation will be at Sacred Heart Church in DeTour on Friday, March 25, 2022 from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Sacred Heart Church or DeTour Ambulance Corps are welcomed.

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