Lawrence F. "Lanny" Pike
May 14, 1914 - January 20, 2015
        

Born to Eternal Life, Tuesday, January 20, 2015, age 100 years.   Beloved husband of the late Florence (nee Staska).  Beloved special friend for 21 years of Jill Ann (Larry) Wolf.  Fond uncle of Patricia (David) Fekete and  Michael (Claudia) Riley.   Further survived by great-nieces, great-nephews and other friends. 

Visitation Tuesday, January 27, 2015 from 3:00pm until time of Service at 4:00pm at LUTHER MANOR FAITH AND EDUCATION CENTER, 4545 N. 92nd Street, Wauwatosa.  Entombment Holy Cross Cemetery , Milwaukee .   In lieu of flowers, memorials to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church appreciated.  

Lawrence Frederick Pike was born on May 14, 1914 in Rockland, Maine to Elisha and Florence Pike.  He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving his country for 4 1/2 years.  Lanny, which he chose as his radio moniker, was a pioneer in Milwaukee television and was the first staff director of WTMJ when only a few hundred TV sets were in operation.  Drawing on his Air Force radio show writer/producer background, he went on to become program manager at WJBK-TV in Detroit. Later in his broadcast career, Lanny served as a TV and radio consultant to Travelers Insurance Co. in Hartford, CT. where he helped secure the license for Channel #3.  He ended his career in 1979 at the University of St. Joseph, West Hartford, CT.  He moved here shortly thereafter and was a member of the American Legion Post #449 and the D.A.V. He loved to write poetry, listen to Big Band music, keep his mind sharp with crossword puzzles and was an avid Green Bay Packer and Boston Red Sox fan. 

Lanny will always be remembered for his catchphrase, “In God we trust; all others must pay cash.” 

The survivors wish to thank Luther Manor’s second floor health center and hospice staff for their exemplary care.