Lawrence John Stanczak Jr.

Lawrence John Stanczak Jr., 76, of The Villages, FL, passed away on August 14, 2025, at the Lane Purcell Hospice House in Sumterville, FL. Larry was born on November 10, 1948, in Waukegan, IL, to Lawrence Sr. and Mary (Michalczyk) Stanczak. Young Larry was a rapscallion and unsurprisingly, developed a passion for motorcycles and fast cars. But he also deeply understood the value of hard work and dedication, and leveraged those traits to become the captain of his football team at Carmel High School. In 1970, Larry graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, where he made many lifelong friends and met his cherished wife, Maureen (Sullivan). Larry possessed the unique combination of a mind for math and structured thinking, as well as high emotional intelligence, that enabled him to excel in a career in sales and executive recruiting. Consistently a top performer, he rose through the ranks to management, becoming COO of Kforce during its rapid growth, eventually retiring as COO of Yoh. More importantly, Larry was always a devoted husband and father. He adored traveling and boating with Maureen, and they rarely missed the opportunity to attend a gala event. Sunday afternoon golf on a fall afternoon with Maureen driving the cart, followed by dinner at one of the country club bars, were some of the happiest days of his life. Larry also loved spending time with his boys and was incredibly supportive of their various activities. He modeled loyalty, hard work, and living a life true to one's values that left an indelible mark on his sons. Larry was also known for his various passions, and he always pursued them to the hilt. Hunting, fishing, and waterskiing in his youth; trips to Lake Holcomb and camp Deep Woo were always memorable. Playing the ponies with his youngest son, Bill, the two of them would study the racing forms for hours the night before. Discontent with merely boating around Florida, he earned his commercial captain's license and served as Fleet Commander at Bradenton Yacht Club. Moving inland to The Villages, golf became his game, and his two hole-in-one shots contributed to his low-teens handicap. (A few of those generous gimmie putts didn't hurt either!) Larry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Maureen, his sons Jim (Lael) and Joe (Stephanie), Tasha Prater (son Bill's partner), grandchildren Teaguen, Ainsley, Keely, Ava, Nathan, and Harper, great-grandchild Mabel, his sisters Carol Grasser and Marsha (Mike) Kuntz, and many nieces and nephews who appreciated his tendency to liven up family gatherings. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Mary, his sister Barbara, and his son Bill, all of whom he loved dearly. We will celebrate Larry's life during the 8:30 AM Mass at St. Timothy in Lady Lake, Florida, followed by a reception at the Cane Garden Country Club with a breakfast buffet. ("No hoopla! I'm serious!" was a final order.) In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude's Hospital for Children or Tunnel to Towers. Larry will be remembered for his love of God, Family, and Community, and his drive, determination, and generosity. For those unable to attend, a livestream of the Mass will be available here: https://www.sttimothycc.com/mass-livestream