INDIVIDUAL OBITUARY

Rev. Laurence Anthony Mayer, O.Praem.

Laurence Anthony Mayer, O. Praem., age 76, a member of the Norbertine Community of St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere, WI, and a Norbertine priest, passed into God’s eternal kingdom on November 23, 2007.

Our brother, Larry, was born on September 6, 1931, in McGregor , Iowa , to Anton and Pearl (DuCharme) Mayer.  His home parish was St. John Nepomucene, Prairie du Chien , WI .

Larry graduated from Prairie du Chien High School in 1950; received a B.A. degree in English from St. Norbert College, De Pere, in June 1959; studied liturgy at the Liturgisches Institute in Trier, Germany and did post graduate work at Notre Dame University receiving an M.A. in Liturgical Studies in 1978. 

On August 28, 1960, Larry entered St. Norbert Abbey where he was vested as a novice; professed Simple Vows on August 28, 1962; Solemn Vows on August 28, 1965 and was ordained to the Priesthood on September 1, 1965.

Our brother, Larry, served as a faculty member at Archmere Academy , Claymont , DE , and Premontre High School , Green Bay , WI .  He served as a member of the Formation Team at St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere, WI, Santa Maria de la Vid Priory, Albuquerque, NM and Holy Spirit House of Studies, Chicago IL  and he was the abbey liturgist and cantor from 1969 until 1985.

During the summers of 1971 to 1973, Larry participated in a Special Study Project, Arcosanti, under the internationally known environmentalist/architect Paolo Soleri in Scottsdale , Arizona , where he further developed his love of nature and artistic skills.  Through skillful planning as Grounds Keeper of the abbey property, he executed all of the landscape projects, which make up the natural environment of St. Norbert Abbey today.  He was also responsible for the landscaping at Our Lady of Daylesford abbey in Paoli , PA and Santa Maria de la Vid Priory in Albuquerque , NM .  The various houses of the Order and individual confreres hold many of his artistic creations.

Larry is survived by the Norbertine Community; three brothers, Bernard, Maurice, and John; two sisters, Mildred Sanders and Judith Krug; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Francis.