RICHARD "REE" H. LASKER, 73, of 5401 North Shore Dr., died Sunday, November 29, 1998 at Luther Hospital. He was born August 16, 1925 in Eau Claire to Herman and Babette (Weinfeld) Lasker. Ree graduated from Eau Claire Senior High School with the class of 1943, and then attended UW-EC and graduated from UW-Madison in 1950. He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. Ree married Betty London on February 17, 1973 in Sparta.\r\nRee began his insurance career with Mutual of New York in 1948 and continued that relationship throughout his life. He and his father Herman, were the first father-son team to be accepted in to the Million Dollar Round Table and he was its youngest member at that time. He was also a member the Mutual of New York Hall of Fame; He was a Past President of the Chippewa Valley Association of Life Underwriters; Founder and Past Director of the Charter Bank of Eau Claire; Board member, Sacred Heart Hospital Foundation, Eau Claire; He was a 31 year member of Eau Claire Masonic Lodge #112 F&AM, Scottish Rite Valley of Eau Claire and Zor Temple; American Legion Post #53; President of University Heights of Eau Claire, Inc.; Hazelden Alumni Speaker and Coordinator of Hazelden Alumni Speakers Program. The Hazelden Affiliation National Leadership Council, At Large; Ree and his wife, Betty were 1994 recipients of the Hazelden CARE Award. His tape entitled "Ree Lasker Live", his personal story of recovery developed 14 years ago his sold to patients and treatment facilities worldwide with all proceeds and royalties donated back to patient aid. His unique sense of humor and unending generosity will be missed by many. He loved people and reached out to all.\r\nSurvivors include his wife, Betty, two sons, William, Austin,TX, and Ted, San Diego,CA; two daughters, Roberta (Matt) Rueter, Austin, TX, and Amy (Dean) Sibley of Tokyo,Japan; six grandchildren; a sister, Babette (Zel) Rice of Sparta; and a nephew, David Z. Rice of New York City, NY.\r\nHe was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Robert.\r\nFuneral Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Congregational United Church of Christ with Rev. William A. Heins officiating. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery where American Legion Post #53 will conduct military graveside rites. Friends may call 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Lenmark-Gomsrud Funeral Home and an hour prior to services Thursday at the church. There will be a 7 p.m. masonic service Wednesday at the funeral home.\r\nFamily requests memorials be directed to the Hazelden Foundation, P.O. Box 11, Center City,MN 55012 or the YMCA, 700 Graham Ave., Eau Claire,WI 54701 or charity of the donors choice.

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