Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.) Dr. Elmer L. Lashua, DVM

Published 2:18 pm Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Elmer Lester Lashua, 93, of White Oak Village Apartments, died Friday, Sept., 16, 2016 at his home in Tryon, N.C.

Born in Mellen, Wisc. on April 16, 1923, he was the last son and child of the late Egbert and Maude Cleaves Lashua.

Elmer was predeceased by his wife of 50 years, Josephine “Jodie.” Surviving are sons, Mark (Penni) of Columbus, Ind.; Martin (Mary) of Huntersville, N.C.; daughter Jennifer of Mooresville, N.C.; five grandchildren, Sarah Lashua; Katie Geller (Scott); Tim Lashua, Sydney and Zoey Bezanson, and two great grandchildren, Ethan and Emma Josephine.

Elmer received his Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Michigan State University and had his own small veterinary practice before joining the US Air Force in 1953. Elmer settled with his family in Tryon in 1976 after a long and proud career in the US Force. Tryon was an important part of Elmer’s life. He was introduced to Tryon while working with horses as a young stable hand for Mr. Jack Kimberly (of the Kimberly Clark Corporation). Marion Brock and Lee Cowan of Tryon were working for the Kimberlys on their property at what is now part of FENCE and went north to Wisconsin seasonally with the horses. It was there they met and married Elmer’s sisters Iola and Marie and settled in Tryon and Landrum in the late 1940s. He had many interesting life experiences including transporting horses on ships with Lee Cowan with United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation to post WWII war torn Poland and Greece in 1948, and also working in Mexico treating hoof and mouth disease in cattle. He traveled to over 30 countries in the course of his lifetime, including a few that most people don’t get to: Iceland, Greenland and South Korea.

He loved Wisconsin cheese, bratwurst, salami and of course, beer. Yuengling Beer stock prices dipped after hearing of Elmer’s passing. He was an avid Green Bay Packers fan and Atlanta Braves fan. He was watching a baseball game in his easy chair when he passed (unfortunately the Braves lost). Elmer prided himself in getting from point A to Point B and back to Point A as quickly as possible and famously was the first to leave any event or family gathering.

Elmer was a loving and generous man and will be missed by all.

In keeping with his wishes, there will be no service but a family memorial celebration of his life is planned later in the fall. In lieu of flowers, Memorial donations can be made to Foothills Humane Society of Columbus, N.C. or to a veteran’s charity of your choice.

McFarland Funeral Chapel
Tryon, N.C.