WAUWATOSA, WI (FORMERLY of RACINE) – Mr. Norman, V. Lanning, 79, passed away at Froedtert Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, August 27, 2013.
He was born in East Liverpool, OH on February 13, 1934, the son of the late Norman and Alice (nee: Pickens) Lanning, Sr. He graduated from East Liverpool High School in 1951. He also received his teaching degree from Ohio University in 1956 and his MA in Music from the University of Iowa in 1967. In between undergraduate and graduate schools he served with the U.S. Army.
Mr. Lanning will be fondly remembered by the many students and teachers at Washington Park High School where he taught and eventually chaired the music department from 1963 – 1997. As an educator, he proudly belonged to the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference and the Wisconsin Education Association. Mr. Lanning also served as choral director for numerous Lutheran churches in Racine, including; Emmanuel, Bethania and Emmaus. In addition, he was active in numerous musical ensembles in Ohio and Wisconsin. Most notably, he directed the Johnson Wax Chorus and performed with the Racine Symphony and Theater Guild.
He is survived by his daughter, Lise (Jerry) Hierseman; their children, Sam and Emma Hierseman all of Wauwatosa; his son Paul (Hilda) Lanning; their children, Mason and Andrew Lanning all of Austin, TX; his former wife of 37 years, Judy Gasser of Racine and his sister, Charlene Garner of East Liverpool, OH. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Robert Garner.
Family and friends are invited to gather at Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home and Crematory on Sunday, September 1, 2013 for a visitation from 1-3 p.m. There will be a service to follow at 3:00 p.m. honoring and remembering Norm’s life. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come with a story and memory to share. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Norman Lanning, Sr. and Jr. Music Scholarship (PNC Bank in Wauwatosa, 6900 W. State St. Wauwatosa, WI 53213) would be appreciated.
Julie Boehme says
Mr. Lanning was a very motivating and inspiring conductor and teacher at Park and Lise was a good friend. I look forward to touching base again after all these years, while also sending out condolences and prayers to the family.
Daniel Neimeyer says
Norm had quite the impact on me, musically and personally. Many aspects of his teachings have been carried along by me. Though we hadn’t been in touch for a few years, he will always have a place in my heart and memory.
Park HS Class of 1989
Matt Case says
Mr. Lanning was a kind and gracious human being and he had a significant effect on me as a musician and as a person. I always looked forward to his orchestra and jazz classes and have some great memories from them. Norm was also integral in helping me decide which college to attend, and his counsel is still shaping me today via the many great relationships I’ve made as a result of that decision.
Bill Diekhoff says
I was so sad to hear from my son that Norm had passed away. He was a friend and fellow teacher at Park High School for many years. He was a wonderful musician and he led by example. I want to give my deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Rest in peace Norm.
Bill
Angel PLatzer says
It was wonderful to see you again Lise and to meet your family. I am SO sorry I could not stay for the service as I know I would have enjoyed it! I remember spending so much time at your house that I just called Norm “dad” and you were calling him “Norm” at the time…funny! (I don’t think he knew or would have appreciated that!) You have been an excellent daughter in loving an honoring your dad through difficult times. Enjoy your good memories of him always!!
Lisa Essi says
My sympathies to your family. Mr. Lanning was an institution at Park HS and I am so thankful to have been part of the music program during his tenure. He will be missed and remembered fondly by so many!
Robert A. Johnson says
I’d been trying to get into the band at Fratt School on either trumpet or drums during 1959-1960 … well, it never worked out. But, during the summer of 1960, on my way to McKinley, Norman Lanning, the band director there, must’ve heard about me and he brought over to our house a sousaphone (!) that I could learn to play over the summer. So I learned enough to get into the band and spent 3 years on the tuba at McKinley. The kids in the band adored Mr. Lanning (I remember being in the stage band for “Get Up And Go”), and, upon graduating in 1963 (to go on to Park High), we were uniformly miserable about having to leave him behind. But the fates intervened. During the summer of 1963, the band/orchestra director at Park was killed in an auto accident, and Norman Lanning moved over to Park High! At Park, I played tuba in the concert band, orchestra, marching band, brass choir, basketball band, jazz band, Kiwanis Youth Symphony — and probably some other group I’ve forgotten. And I remember the excitement of going to the state music contest every spring. I was also poking along on the piano, but I was in awe of my more talented classmates (Lee Wille, Matt Zebell, John Schoening — who I believe may still be with the San Francisco Symphony), to name a few. I’ve spent most of my career teaching mathematics at Indiana State University, and in every class I’ve taught I’ve tried to emulate Norman Lanning’s wonderful, warm, brilliant teaching style. He was and always will be my hero.
Judy Collins says
Such good memories of Mr. Lanning at Park High School in Racine. He was a great teacher and so patient with his students. May he Rest In Peace.