Lawrence Joseph Halida

LAWRENCE J. HALIDA, age 93, of Owen, WI, formerly of Loyal, WI, passed away at Aspirus Wausau Hospital in Wausau, WI on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Funeral services will be held at 11am on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Loyal, with Rev. Elizabeth Bier officiating. Burial will follow in the Loyal Lutheran Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Loyal American Legion Post 175. Visitation will be held at the church on Tuesday, from 10am until time of service.
Lawrence Joseph Halida was born on May 29, 1932 in Ashland, WV to John and Mary (Jopa) Halida. In 1936, his family moved to a farm in the Town of Roosevelt, rural Lublin, WI, where he was raised and received his education, graduating from Gilman High School in 1950. He then attended Stevens Point Normal School and received his teaching certificate. Lawrence was united in marriage to Harriet T. Wald on May 28, 1955 at St. Mary's Polish National Catholic Church in Lublin. Lawrence entered the U.S. Army on September 5, 1956 and served his country until his honorable discharge on August 15, 1958. He returned to Wisconsin and was a teacher and principal in Poynette, WI, while obtaining his Master's Degree at Moorhead State College in Moorhead, MN during the summers. In 1967, they moved to Randolph, WI where he was principal in the Randolph school district for one year, and then moved to Tomah, WI in 1968, where he was principal until 1971. In 1972 they moved to Loyal, where they lived in town and he was principal for the Loyal Public Schools. They later built a home northeast of town and began farming. Lawrence retired from the Loyal school district in the early 1990's, and continued farming with his wife, Harriet, until retiring in 2001. They resided in their home until moving to Clark County Rehab & Living Center in 2021.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, the Loyal Lions Club, and was a Cub Scout Den Leader for several years.
Lawrence had many interests, but especially loved hunting, fishing, his dogs, animals, being outdoors, spending time with his family, farming, playing cards, watching the Packers and Brewers, and enjoyed traveling with his wife when they were younger.
He will be dearly missed by his children: Lynn Wilson of Wausau, WI, Kimberly Halida of Marshfield, WI, Larry (Crystal) Halida of Bowling Green, KY, and Cheryl Halida of Marshfield, WI; five grandchildren: Katilyn Halida, Tyler Halida, Bradley Schneider, Natalie Halida and Lindsay Halida; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Harriet; four brothers: Leo, Frank, Stanley Sr. and Edward Halida; and three sisters: Helen Plecko, Virginia Korpalski and Dorothy Vanderhagen.
Our family would like to thank everyone for their support and compassion during this time.