Laurance J. Mcadam

Laurance J. "Larry"  McAdam, 94, of Goshen, died Wednesday afternoon, January 20, 2010, in the emergency room at Goshen General Hospital.  He had been ill since January 1. He was born on October 21, 1915, in Chicago, Illinois, to Walter and Irene (Lussier) McAdam.  He married Mary Alice Mickes on September 15, 1945 in Chicago.  She preceded him in death of June 14, 1982. Mr. McAdam served in the Army Air Force from June 1942 through July 1945. A Goshen resident since 1956, Mr. McAdam started working for Montgomery Wards in 1948 and was their store manager in Goshen from 1956 to 1971.  He also worked for the former First National Bank, Midwest Commerce, NBD, First Chicago, and Chase Bank from 1971 to 2002 where he was vice-president of marketing and public relations.  He retired in 2002 at the age of 86. Mr. McAdam was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen, where he served as a reader and lector.  He was president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1970 and served as head of the retail division of the Goshen Chamber of Commerce.  He also had served as president of Junior Achievement; Goshen Rotary Club in 1985; United Way in 1984.  He had served on both the boards of Elkhart General Hospital and Goshen General Hospital.  He started and was the original voice of the Sound of the Economy.  Mr. McAdam was an active supporter of Goshen High School Boosters and the Goshen Boys & Girls Club.  He loved to play tennis and did so into his 80’s. He is survived by a daughter, Laurie (Peter) Vander Sluis of Goshen; two sons, Ronald (Katherine) McAdam of Cassopolis, Michigan and Dennis J. (Deborah) McAdam of Portland, Oregon; two grandsons; one step-grandson; a step-great-granddaughter; and two brothers, Walter (Helen) McAdam of Cleveland, Ohio, and Robert E. (Grace) McAdam of Crowley, Texas. He was preceded in death by his wife; a son, Terry McAdam on February 2, 1974; two brothers, Richard G. and Chester E. McAdam and a sister, Evelyn Smith. Friends may call 1-5 p.m., Sunday, January 24, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home where a 5:00 p.m. rosary will be led by his niece, Patricia Smith. A 10: 00 a.m., Monday, January 25, 2010, funeral mass will be conducted at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen.  Rev. Father Christopher Smith will officiate. Burial will follow in Violett Cemetery, Goshen. Memorial contributions may be made to the Goshen Boys and Girls Club or St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.