Lawrence Widrig

WIDRIG, LAWRENCE "WOODY"
"You're the Best!" was a favorite comment of Larry's, one of the most optimistic, kind, fun-loving and authentic guys you would ever want to know. It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my dear husband, Lawrence Eugene Widrig on October 21 at our home in Chicago.
Larry started his life in Freeport, IL just outside of Rockford. He was born December 2, 1940, to the late George and Mary Ellen (Masterson) Widrig. He graduated from Rockford East High School in 1959. From there, he went on to University of Nebraska and then transferred to Southern Illinois University where he studied journalism and received his master's degree in marketing and advertising. While at SIU he became a proud member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
After graduating, he started his career in advertising sales at the Leo Burnett Company in Chicago. He loved telling stories of his time there, riding the elevator with Leo in the morning and about some of his first accounts like Phillip Morris and Chef Boyardee. His time at Leo Burnett was truly the epitome of "Mad Men" with three martini lunches and deals done on a cocktail napkin and a handshake.
During his 50 plus years as an advertising executive, he worked for CBS, opened the first sales office in Chicago for FOX when it became the "4th Network", A&E and ABC. He went on to become the vice president of advertising sales for USA NETWORKS and AMC / WE. He retired at the age of 78, as VP Midwest advertising sales, with Entertainment Studios.
His career gave him the opportunity to travel the world and attend notable events including the 1984 LA Olympics, the Masters, the Ryder Cup numerous times in both Europe and the US, twice to the French Open in Paris flying aboard the Concorde, the American Music Awards and the Emmys.
His daughter Dana recalls that, when she was growing up, he was the dad that all her friends loved hanging out with because he was so fun, up for anything and always generous and supportive. In later years, he especially enjoyed playing Santa, in full costume and beard, sometimes making a dozen stops early Christmas morning delivering presents to the kids.
Larry was always open to trying something new, whether it be skydiving, kayaking and hiking the rainforest in Costa Rica, biking The Arches in Moab, Utah, whitewater rafting on the Rio Grande and sometimes inadvertently skiing a double black diamond run in Colorado.
In 1999, he married me, Charity Andersen, at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago. We lived on the northside for the past 24 years. He loved his house and entertaining. Many holidays, celebrations and wonderful memories were made there with family, friends and neighbors. Larry was proud to show visitors around our house and point out special things that we had collected over the years or improvements we had made. He had a real affection for vintage things including a 1950's pinball machine, a 1953 Wurlitzer jukebox with hundreds of 45's and his 1974 Honda motorcycle. All of which worked at various times, but most likely never at the same time! It seemed everything had a story behind it that he loved sharing with everyone. But his 1979 baby blue VW convertible was probably most beloved by Larry and is still running strong today.
Larry was an avid golfer. For over 25 years he had a prime 7:30 am Saturday tee time at Cog Hill Golf Club and maintained the yearly playing schedule for a group of good friends. He also loved to travel. In addition to frequent trips to Colorado and all around the US, we visited the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Prague, the Netherlands, Belgium and many times to the home of his ancestry, Ireland. He was a great traveling partner, always willing to go off the planned itinerary for an adventure.
He is survived by his daughter Dana Widrig of Hinsdale, his brother Roger of Atlanta, and seven grandchildren: Olivia and Alexis Widrig, and Ellie, Ben, Tess, Mac and Millie Pierce of Oak Park. He has been a wonderful uncle to Max and Katelin Hanisch and Jonathan Andersen and a dear brother-in-law to Faith McMillen and Hope and Michael Hanisch. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Regan Pierce.
A memorial service will be held at the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Buchanan Chapel, on November 6 at 3 pm.
If you are unable to attend, please raise a pint of Guinness or a perfect Manhattan and say "Slainte!" to a great guy and to a life well lived.