Lawrence Irvin Ranka

September 10 , 1944 - June 05 , 2022

VISITATIONS:

Thursday, June 09, 20224:00 ~ 8:00 PMMichigan Memorial Funeral Home

SERVICES:

Friday, June 10, 202210:00 AMMichigan Memorial Funeral Home Chapel

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Obituary

RANKA, Lawrence I., age 77, Northville, June 05, 2022. Beloved husband of Karen Ranka. Loving father of Kacy Schultz (Roger Thomas) and Noel (Lisa) Ranka. Dearest Papa of Kaitlyn, Kylie, Jack, Maxwell, and Emma. He is also survived by his sister Mary Ann Westerdale. He is preceded in death by parents Irvin and Helen Ranka. Lawrence was a proud member of the Great White North.Larry was the best Husband, Father, Papa, and friend. On September 10, 1944, he was born to Irvin and Helen Ranka. He grew up in Wyandotte, Michigan, where he attended Roosevelt High School. He was a varsity high school swimmer. He met and fell in love with Karen LeBlanc, and the two were married in 1967. Larry and Karen went to Western Michigan University. After they graduated, they lived initially in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he met an extraordinary group of couples and families who stayed close friends for over 50 years. The Great White North spent some of the most memorable times together through fishing, golf, poker, and hunting. As Larry's family, we can't thank them enough for being dear, supportive, caring, and loyal friends.Karen and Larry had two children, their daughter Kacy and son Noel. They moved to Plymouth, Michigan, where they raised their children with fantastic neighbors that they still meet today. Together they raised their children in the amazing community of Plymouth.Karen and Larry became grandparents to Kaitlyn, Kylie, Jack, Max, and Emma. Their grandchildren truly cherished the time with their nana and papa. Larry was always a loving, affectionate, and engaging patriarch.Larry suffered from a long battle with Parkinson's disease, which lasted for many years. In the end, he passed surrounded by his loved ones.Not a day will go by that we will not feel his presence or have him in our hearts and minds. We love him and miss him. We are so thankful for the time we had.

Condolences

I couldn't ask for a better business partner, friend, and companion for our joint promotion of consumer action to reduce the automotive industry’s impact on global climate change. Larry was recognized with a US Patent for developing the analytical model and marketing strategy to significantly impact automotive greenhouse gas emissions. The result was the Automotive Environmental Superiority (AMES) Awards which recognized the most environmentally superior brands/models each year. Larry had boundless enthusiasm for his interests and a beautiful sense of humor to play pranks on his pals. I remember one night we ended up stranded in NYC and had to share a room at a hotel near LaGuardia. As I reached to turn out the light and made contact with the switch, Larry made this terrible electrical short circuit noise that made me think I had met my demise through electrocution! He had fun reenacting the short circuit story and generating the electrical noise to the laughter of our Great White North Poker & Outing Club crew. We shared many great times together. Larry took special delight in kicking my butt playing gin rummy during our travels around the country to promote AMES. Great fun! I am especially grateful that we were able to have one last Great White North Poker Game together last summer at Cliff Sheldon's home. I will miss the tradition of celebrating our respective birthdays together over a perch lunch at Steve & Rocky's. I'm having a Macallan's Scotch tonight in honor of his release from the shackles of Parkinson’s. I hold my dear friend Larry in the highest esteem. Rest well, my friend. Bill Mattick
Our hearts are with you all. We loved Larry and have so many wonderful memories of happy times with him and the whole family. The Great White North members will miss him always and the group will not be the same without him. He was kind, fun, and had a great sense of humor. We watched Larry and Karen raise their wonderful children, Kacy and Noel and followed Larry in his successful career. Larry’s passing is such a loss for all of us. Karen, Kacy and Noel and family, we send our love and sympathy. Love, Lynn and John Lynn and John White

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