Lawrence Heidrich

Lawrence Otto Heidrich joined the celestial brilliance on Saturday, April 14, 2012, at Wm. Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Mich., following a brief illness. He joins his wife Mildred to whom he was married for nearly 66 years, his son James, and his brother Harold. Surviving are his children, Janet Pete Markovic, Roy, Bruce, Gary and Glen; grandchildren, Laura, Ginger, Ashley and Valerie; great-grandson, Vincent; brother, Richard Christina; and sister, Joy Stan Ainsley. He also leaves behind many friends. Born in Detroit on Sept. 7, 1920 to immigrants Rudolph and Helen Fritz Heidrich, Larry's first language was German; he quickly learned English in primary school. As a 10-year old field hockey player, he did a brisk business with his friends after teaching himself how to sharpen blades using equipment in his grandfather's basement. He graduated from Detroit's Northwestern High School and worked for his father at Heidrich Tool & Die. It was during this time that he met the love of his life, Mildred Irene Hutchings, at the Grande Ballroom. Mr. Heidrich enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and trained as a bombardier. Following World War 2, he returned to Heidrich Tool, and eventually started Competitive Tool & Die. In semi-retirement, he founded and operated Sport King of Rogers City - the manufacturer of Ski-Kat snowmobiles and trikes. Mr. Heidrich was a lifetime member of Plum Hollow Country Club, an active Mason and took great delight in volunteering his time with the Shrine Circus through 1960's-70s. Over the past 25 years, he kept an apiary and enjoyed sharing the craft of beekeeping with others. A longtime resident of Bloomfield Township, Mr. Heidrich also took great pleasure in the beauty and nature of northern Michigan where he spent a significant amount of time. He celebrated his 90th birthday in Millersburg, with family and friends of all ages.