Laverne “Mike” J. Rublaitus, 92, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Monday, February 12, 2018 at his home.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 Saturday at Ottawa Funeral Home with Rev. Mike Driscoll officiating. Visitation will be 9:30 to 11:00, prior to services, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park with Military Services.
Mike was born May 15, 1925 in Seatonville, Illinois to John and Anna Rublaitus. He married Nancy Jelm on Sept 19, 1953 at St. Patrick’s Church in Ottawa.
Mike served in the US Marines during WWII. He was a corporal and squad leader in Company E, Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division. He was in action on Cape Gloucester, New Britain, at Peleliu, Palau, and on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands. He received the Purple Heart on Peleliu and the Bronze Star on Okinawa.
Mike worked forty years at LOF/Pilkington and retired in 1986. He was a member of St. Patrick Church and the Royal Bayreuth Club. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, and playing cards.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; two sons, Jeff (Susan) Rublaitus and Jay (Karen) Rublaitus; two grandchildren, Justin (Tiffany) Rublaitus and Megan (Wes) Page; and three great-grandchildren, Bailey, Alexa, and Elias.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Rosella, and seven brothers, Benjamin, William, Carl, John, Tony, Raymond, and his twin brother Leo (Ike).
Pallbearers will be Keith Carlson, Chuck Heerhold, Ken Thompson, Wes Page, Neil Neurohr, and Dan and Justin Rublaitus.
Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Mike has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Last Supper.