Former Marinette editor Larry Ebsch died Dec. 15, 2024 at Rennes East in Peshtigo at the age of 93.
A lifelong resident of Menominee, Mich., he attended the former Epiphany Grade School for eight years, and graduated from Menominee High School in the Class of 1949.
He was a route salesman for Royal Crown Bottling Co. of Menominee until entering the U.S. Army on February 20, 1952 during the Korean War. He spent 14 months of his two-year active hitch as a medic in Korea. He was discharged with the rank of Sergeant in February 1954, then served six years in the Inactive Army Reserves. He married Arlene Harpt at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, on Water Street in Marinette on Aug. 10, 1957.
Active with area sports teams, Larry joined the Menominee Herald-Leader as sports editor and general news reporter in May 1955. He moved to the Marinette Eagle-Star in 1962 and rose through the ranks to serve as managing editor. He was named executive editor of the Eagle Herald when the Eagle-Star and Herald-Leader merged in July 1995.
He retired on Dec. 31, 1995, but continued to contribute to the editorial page and also wrote a weekly column titled “ByeLines.” The column was devoted to area history, his life as a newsman and his life’s experiences growing up in West End, in local sports and in the military.
He served as president of the original Upper Peninsula Sports Writers Association and the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame Council. He is a Charter member of the U.P. Hall of Fame Council, which founded the HOF in 1972. Larry is also a charter inductee of the Menominee High School Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2018. He was vice president and publicity director of the first Babe Ruth baseball program in Menominee and was business manager and publicity director of the original M&M Hornets of the Wisconsin State Football League.
Survivors include sons: Michael of Kouts, Indiana, and Stephen of Marinette; three grandchildren: Christopher (Evercita Eugenio) Ebsch, Patrick, and Stephanie (Daryl) Crensen; one great-grandchild, Lucy. Also surviving are his five brothers-in-laws; and numerous nephews and nieces.
A funeral service and burial occurred on Dec. 20; Cadieu Funeral Home handled arrangements.
