Phyllis Laughlin's Funeral Mass Video

Phyllis Mae (Ritchie) Laughlin, New London, passed away on Sunday, May 21, 2023, on her 92nd birthday, at home surrounded by her loving family.  She was born on May 21, 1931, in New London, Wisconsin, daughter of the late Doinysia (Doc) and Florence (Joubert) Ritchie. The oldest of nine siblings, she learned the importance of family at a very young age. For many years she helped her parents care for her siblings, and this is how she built the foundation for her lifelong work of gaining love and respect as the matriarch of the family. Phyllis married the love of her life, Gene Laughlin, from the other side of the tracks, on July 26, 1950, at the Most Precious Blood Catholic Church.  As their family started to grow, so did their family's business ventures. In 1963, Gene and Phyllis and their in-laws started the long-standing community business, Highway Truck Parts.  In 1977 they bought out Ruth and Dale Reese and made it a family run operation eventually bringing in their two sons and nephew. For 60 years Phyllis worked in the family business.

Another important part of her life was being a longstanding member of the greater New London Community. Knowing many local families, she had an incredible ability to recall faces and names and she used this gift to keep many generations connected. Phyllis showed her respect of community by volunteering and being very active in local organizations. She was a lifelong member of the Most Precious Blood Church, PCCW through MPB, the Oak Grove Homemakers, the Study Club, Red Hats Chapter of New London, the New London Lionettes, the MPB Thrift Sale volunteer group and she was a member of the New London Community Pool participating in Aquacise and water walking 2-3 days per week for 42 years. Through her lifetime, she also knitted, crocheted, and donated thousands of baby blankets and newborn infant hats to local hospitals.

In more recent years, she transitioned to prayer shawls and slippers for many family members and friends. After several ventures to one of their favorite locations in northern Wisconsin, Gene and Phyllis purchased a cottage on Lac Vieux Desert. She spent her spare time preparing the perch Gene caught for family fish fry's, knitting and crocheting, putting her hands in the dirt while gardening and growing flowers, reading, playing crossword puzzles, watching PBS, enjoying big band music, and passing along the same zest for all of the things she loved to other members of the family.  After the sale of the cottage, they enjoyed spending time traveling to see different cities and visiting casinos in one of their RV's or in their Prius. They shared their love of travel with many members of the family, adventuring across the country and would always stop to visit the grandchildren or great grandchildren during their explorations. In 2020, Gene and Phyllis celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with their immediate family.

Phyllis had a profound and immeasurable impact on so many people in the community. Even as her days grew shorter, she continued to share her faith. In her last month of life she continued her influence by developing a very special bond with her caretakers and helped guide one to the path of being baptized. She is survived and will be greatly missed by; her daughter Lynne Laughlin-Riley, New London, her children, Holly (Fiancée Mitch DeBehnke) McCarty (Greenville) her children Gabriel and Aubrey; Todd (Nancy) Riley, La Crosse, their children Aiden and Brenya; son Blair & his special friend Sheila, New London, his daughters, Angela (Tony) Monty, New London, her children Alexia and Payton; Gina Laughlin, Bonduel, her children: Kendra, Korbin and Hunter; Dr. Blaire Marie (Bancs) Bowers, Evans, Georgia, their daughter Boston; son Don (Connie) Laughlin, New London, their children: Melissa (Brian) Holtz, Oshkosh, Heather (Scott) Thibodeau their son Austin, Appleton, WI; Tyler Laughlin, New London; Ashley (Jesse) Beschta, their daughters, Nova and Charlee, Omaha, NE, her daughter Julie (Jeff) Roberts, New London, and their daughter Christy Roberts (fiancé Taylor Harris), Salt Lake City, Utah.  Siblings and In-laws- Darla Ritchie, Lorraine Kettner, Margaret Rasmussen, Bernard Ritchie, Rose (Dan) Schultz, David (Boni) Ritchie, Noni (Art) Gorges, and Reta Wirth. Phyllis is further survived by nephews, nieces, other relatives and many friends.  She was preceded in death by her mother and father in-law, parents, husband Gene, brother Leroy Ritchie, in-laws Carl Kettner, Bob Rasmussen, Charlene Ritchie, Terry Wirth, Alice (Orville) Roehl, Ruth (Dale) Reese and Robert and Christine Laughlin.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Doctors and Nurses at ThedaCare, and the staff of ThedaCare Hospice, special caretakers Mary Klumb and Dorian Nichols, and also to Father John from Most Precious Blood Catholic Church.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Phyllis will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, May 24th at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in New London, with Fr. John Kleinschmidt officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00am until time of service. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider contributing to the Phyllis Laughlin Memorial Fund which will be used to sponsor a student going into the priesthood.