Harold Laubscher

Harold Lee Laubscher, 83, died Wednesday, April  15, 2020 at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri after developing complications after surgery.He was born on the family farm in Brighton, Illinois on December 15, 1936, and was one of four sons born to Marian and Edna (Cairns) Laubscher.He attended Brighton schools and graduated from Ranken Technical College in St. Louis, Mo. as a maintenance mechanic in 1970.  He was a United States Army veteran, and was employed for 47 years at Owens-Illinois retiring as a maintenance mechanic, and was a longtime member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Grafton.He was an avid bowler, participating with numerous leagues in both Jerseyville and Alton from the time he was 16 years of age.  He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and traveling.  He especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren and great grandchildren,  as they participated in various sports, and rarely missed a game.   He beamed when he was listening to his granddaughter perform musically in her various concerts.   He was a man who truly took great pride in his family and he loved them dearly.He married the former Ila Marie (Vanausdoll) Hayes on August 24, 1962 in Wood River, Il., and together they shared forty years of marriage prior to her death on November 24, 2002.   He was once again blessed with love when he married Jo Ann Well on January 22, 2005 at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Grafton, and together the two have enjoyed their 15 years of a blessed marriage.Surviving are his wife, Jo Ann Laubscher of Grafton; his children and their spouses, Bryon Laubscher, and his companion, Angela Sanders of Shipman, Gary and Ann Hayes of Grafton, and Kim and George Wolfford of Edwardsville; 15 Grandchildren; 28 Great Grandchildren; 13 Great Great Grandchildren; a sister in-law, Pat Laubscher of Brighton; a brother in-law and sister in-law, Richard and Carol Well of Lewistown, Il.; as well an many nieces and nephews, cousins, friends, and a host of longtime bowling friends and their families.In addition to his parents, and his wife, Ila, he was preceded in death by a daughter and son in-law, Louise and Edward Joseph Baecht; a son, Robert Hayes; a granddaughter, Lori (Baecht) Griffin; a great grandson, Zachary Baecht; and three brothers, Marian, Walter and Larry Laubscher.Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, private funeral services were held at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.He was laid to rest in the Scenic Hill Cemetery in Grafton, with the Grafton American Legion Post 648 conducting military graveside rites.Memorials may be given to either the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Grafton, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the ALS Foundation in care of the funeral home.Memories may be shared at crawfordfunerals.com.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home