Lonnie Labaw

Lonnie L. LaBaw, age 93 of Lafayette, passed away at his residence 10:20 AM Wednesday February 15, 2023 surrounded by his family. He was born in Royal Oak, MI February 14, 1930, the only child of the late Lonzo B. and Isabel B. (Wurtenberger) LaBaw. He attended St. Mary Grade School and was a 1948 graduate of Lafayette Jefferson High School and attended the Krannert School of Life Insurance Marketing Institute at Purdue University. Prior to entering the life insurance field, he was in the newspaper and publishing business for six years. He served as a special agent with Great Northern Life Insurance Company with Hoosier Associate agency in Oxford, IN and served as general manager of the Life department with the same agency. Lonnie was associated with United Security Life ever since they entered Indiana, as a district Agent with the Snyder Insurance Agency in Lafayette and owning the Snyder-LaBaw Insurance Agency for over 40 years. In 1974 he helped bring the Property and Casualty Rating Coverage and sales seminars for multiple line insurance agents to Purdue. In 1975, while serving as president of the Professional Insurance Agents, he introduced the Property and Casualty Course at L.I.M. I and was an instructor in licensing agents. From 1951 until 1953, he served in the U. S. Army, being stationed at Hanau, Germany. Lonnie was a lifetime member of St. Mary Cathedral, was a member of the first graduating class of St. Mary’s Grade School; the Knights of Columbus, SPEBSQSA (Society for Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America), the “Tonsil Klackers” Quartet, the Tippecanotes, the Loyal Order of Moose, Navy Club Ship 12, and American Legion Post 11. On April 28, 2013, he was able to participate in the Honor Flight with his daughter, Retta. He served on the Tippecanoe County Mental Health Association Board for 20 years; served on the Board of Directors of the Indiana Insurance Agent Association for 15 years and served on the board of trustees for the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents, Inc in Washington, DC for nine years. Lonnie was an avid Purdue University basketball and football fan. He enjoyed traveling around the USA and Canada in their motorhome, golf, hunting, bowling, and barbershop quartet and chorus singing. He married Dolores J. Chaffee at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Oxford, IN July 10, 1954 and she survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Michele Louise Woodward (Kenneth) of Newtown Square, PA and Retta Jo Spitznagle (Rich) of Mulberry, IN; two grandchildren, Eric Spitznagle (Nicole) and Amy Reeder along with five great-grandchildren, Carter, Ivery and Vincent Spitznagle and Ian and Isaac Reeder. The Rosary will be recited at 4:30 PM followed by visitation from 5 until 7 PM Monday Feb. 20 at the Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home, 1104 Columbia St., Lafayette. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Cathedral on Tuesday Feb. 21 at 10:30 AM. The interment will follow in St. Boniface Cemetery with American Legion Post 11 graveside rites. Memorials may be made to Lafayette Honor Flight. The family would like to thank Melissa with Home Instead, April from Village Care Givers, along with the staff of Guardian Angels Hospice for their excellent care of Lonnie. Hahn-Groeber Funeral Home is honored to serve the LaBaw family. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com