If you're about to walk past a penny on the street, stop and pick it up. It's exactly what Lloyd Louis Drossart would have done. He entered this world on May 21, 1925 to William and Lucy Drossart, and entered eternal life on April 9, 2015 surrounded by his family in Eau Claire, WI. Those who knew him were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Lloyd during the 89 years he spent on this earth. Among those lessons might be a favorite saying of his, "A penny saved, is a penny earned." He may not have been rich in the wallet all his life, but he was always rich in life and wisdom. Here are a few things he will pass on to those he touched:
- Love your significant other, family, and friends no matter what.
- Pray daily and have a relationship with God. Say the rosary. Travel to religious sites in Rome, Lourdes, and Assisi.
- Love God and Country. Support your troops. Lloyd enlisted in the Navy shortly after graduating high school in 1943. He served our country from 1943-1946 as a Third Class Aviation Specialist. Upon his return from service, he was a proud and very active member of the American Legion and VFW until the day he passed.
- Believe that the Nigerian prince, who wrote you, does want you to have that $30,000 check (But let your children and grandchildren talk you out of cashing it).
- Exercise. He spent a lot of time exercising through yard/house work and riding his bike well into his 80s.
- Get involved with your community. Lloyd was the first School Board President of Holy Trinity School, Member of the Board of Education - Casco/Luxemburg-Casco, Lions Club member for over 30 years, Kewaunee County Board Member, President of the Kewaunee County Aging Board, and member of the Casco Elderly Housing Board. Lloyd led the Kewaunee County Bike A Thon for years raising over $100,000.
- Those pennies you saved? Don't be afraid to make a trip to Oneida Casino, or donate them to your favorite charity. Better yet, see if you can hit it big at Oneida and keep the winnings in your "kitty" for the next casino run.
- Be honest and loyal. You might not like what he had to say, but he said it anyway.
- Work hard. He had many jobs over the years including owning Les Maison Drossart (the bar at which he lost $1,000 in bets because he was so sure his first child would be a boy) and Drossart Orchards. The bulk of his employment came through the 34 years he spent working for Wisconsin Public Service. Lloyd held many different roles from meter reader to working at the Kewaunee nuclear plant.
- Cheer for the Packers. Not many can say they went to the Ice Bowl and the 2013 home playoff game against the Vikings.
- Wear a bowtie. It will make you stand out so much that Donald Driver will compliment you on it. You in turn will give the tie to Donald, his favorite Packer.
- Have a martini, daily. If you really feel like it, have two. (If you're in Mexico, replace the martini with a margarita)
- Boogie board in Mexico until you are 88. (Good luck with this one!) While you are there, establish lasting friendships with people from across the United States and Canada.
- Enjoy life, including the time at the cabin in Mountain on Green Lake at Perry's Paradise. Pick lots of blackberries and give them away to family and friends. After all, you only get to live it once.
Lloyd developed his wisdom and rich life because he was a conversationalist. He loved to get to know anyone and everyone he could in Casco, where he lived his whole life, and anywhere else he went. This was most evident if you ever made a trip to the Village Kitchen in Casco with him. You would have thought he was running for President the way he shook hands and kissed babies. It was very genuine though; he just loved conversing with people.
He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years (that's not a typo), Elizabeth (Bette) Ann Drossart. He is also survived by his children Laurie Hittman and husband Jim; son Gerard Drossart and wife Gail; the four grandchildren (Tracie Hittman Fountain, Paul Hittman, Alex Drossart and Aaron Drossart) made his life better with their visits: and one great grandchild (Naomi Fountain) was the light of his life in his closing days.
Preceding him in death were his parents and siblings: Kathleen Martin and Perry Drossart. Lloyd is reunited with his son, Perry, who was taken prematurely from this earth after a battle with cancer at the age of 21.
Visitation will be at Wiesner & Massart Funeral Home, Casco on Tuesday, April 14 from 4:00-8:00pm and again on Wednesday until 10 a.m. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home at 6 p.m. and Legion program at 6:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Casco on Wednesday April 15 at 10:30 with Reverend Milton Suess officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery after the service with full military rites.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Lloyd's memory to: Holy Trinity Catholic School and/or Parish OR Casco American Legion Post #319. Online condolences may be shared here .
