Gatzke obituaries, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana 

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Name, date of obit, date submitted, submitted for the USGenWeb archives by:

Gatzke, Lavigne Karl    17 Oct 2007    Oct 2007    Jerry Nelson   

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Obituary published in The Advocate (Baton Rouge):  10/17/2007

GATZKE, LAVIGNE KARL
A resident of New Orleans, he died unexpectedly at his home in New Orleans
on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2007. He is now resting comfortably in the arms of his
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Lavigne was born on Aug. 21, 1926, in Baton
Rouge, the second of seven children of the Rev. and Mrs. Gustav A. Gatzke.
After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1944-46, he earned a degree in chemical
engineering from LSU in 1949. he spent four years with ARAMCO in Saudi
Arabia then joined Shell Oil Co. for a career that lasted more than 28
years. He was a registered professional engineer and an expert in pipeline
corrosion. After retiring from Shell, Lavigne spent an additional 14 years
with Shield Coat. Lavigne was devoted to his wife of 46 years, Mildred
Kathleen "Katie" Gatzke and her son, Frank C. Gafke of Covington. He was a
loving brother to five sisters and their families, Mrs. Ralph (Lily)
Carrigan of Houston, Mrs. E.E. (Dorothy) Martin of Baton Rouge, Mrs.
Wendell (Sally) Bark of Hot Springs Village, Ark., Mrs. Larry (Gay) Jordan
of Baton Rouge, and Mrs. James (Gladys) Taylor of Houston; and
sister-in-law, Mrs. Gustav (Elizabeth) Gatzke Jr., of New Orleans. He is
also survived by two grandsons, Matthew Adam and Steven Kyle Gafke. He was
the ultimate uncle to 35 nephews and nieces and their spouses, and a
great-uncle to more than 50 of their children. In addition, he maintained
contact with relatives of his mother's family (Lavigne-Abels) from
Ponchatoula and his father's family (Gatzke-Kindler) from Webster, Mass.
His years of retirement were characterized as a loving family man, as he
spent many hours keeping his extended family connected with regular phone
calls and e-mails, always having time and patience to keep up with the
lives of those he loved. After his family, Lavigne loved Mardi Gras and his
LSU Fighting Tigers. He was predeceased by his parents, the Rev. and Mrs.
G.A. Gatzke, who were of Baton Rouge; brother, G.A. Gatzke Jr., who was of
New Orleans; and grandson, U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Christian D. Gafke, who
was of Covington. Friends and family are invited to a visitation at Harry
McKneely & Son Funeral Home, 100 Magnolia St., Ponchatoula, on Thursday,
Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. until a funeral service and celebration of life at
12:30 p.m., with the Rev. Gary Peterson officiating. Burial in Springfield
Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers include Lavigne's stepson, Frank Gafke; and
nephews, John Gatzke, Steve Carrigan, Mark Carrigan, Ed Martin, Bobby
Martin, Michael Martin, David Bark, Thomas Bark, Alan Jordan, Jeff Taylor
and Paul Lavigne Taylor. 
 
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