[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 180 (Wednesday, November 14, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1523-E1524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF SAMUEL E. ``SAM'' LANZA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 14, 2018

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of 
Samuel E. ``Sam'' Lanza, age 92, who passed away peacefully on 
Saturday, October 27, 2018, at his residence, with his loving family by 
his side.
  Sam was born on January 20, 1926 in Warren, Ohio to Joseph L. and 
Edith Gustafson Lanza. A lifelong resident of the Warren area, Sam 
heard the call of his country and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on 
March 10, 1944. Serving during World War II, he earned the rank of 
corporal and was stationed in the Pacific with his military specialty 
Machine Gun Crewman.
  Sam was wounded in action on April 22, 1945, in Okinawa, and spent 16 
months on a hospital ship and in other Naval hospitals until he was 
honorably discharged Aug. 12, 1946, from the Marine Barracks Training 
Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. He was awarded numerous decorations for 
his service to our country. These were: Honorable Service Button, the 
Purple Heart for wounds in action, the Good Conduct Medal and the 
Asiatic Pacific Ribbon.
  Sam started his career in Milwaukee at Nordberg Manufacturing 
Company, and Tex-Rite Corporation. Upon moving back to Warren in March 
of 1948, he worked at the War Assets Administration and the Lordstown 
Ordnance Depot until it closed in December 1963. Sam then was employed 
with the U.S. Army Support Element in Oakdale, Pennsylvania as a 
housing manager until Feb. 27, 1981.
  Sam joined the Disabled American Veterans, Trumbull County Chapter 11 
in 1948, and was appointed the adjutant on a temporary basis and served 
in that position until the present. He also served as treasurer, 
chapter service officer and was the legislative chairman. Sam has gone 
through all the chairs of the DAV Department of Ohio and was elected to 
State Commander in June 1997, serving through 1998. He was called to 
also serve as a state senior vice commander and the DAV National 
Executive Committee.
  Sam was a lifetime member of numerous organizations: The Disabled 
American Veterans; the Military Order of the Purple Heart, where he 
served as commander of Chapter 606; the VFW; the Marine Corps League, 
where he was senior vice commandant for two years; the American Legion 
Post 540, of NAUS, NARFE where he was past president; and the AmVets.
  Sam has been honored by a proclamation naming May 8, 1992 as Sam 
Lanza Day in Warren, a second proclamation naming April 25, 1998, Sam 
Lanza Day in Warren and, on the same date, a proclamation naming Sam 
Lanza Day in Trumbull County. He was also honored by the Tribune 
Chronicle and the American Red Cross as a Community Star.
  Sam had many passions throughout his life. He enjoyed Notre Dame 
football and was an accomplished bowler, having even scored a 297 game. 
His wife, the former Shirley Joyce Meier, whom he married on May 24, 
1946, died March 20, 2003, after 57 years of marriage together. He is 
survived by his three sons, Sam (Edna) Lanza of White Oak, Pa.,

[[Page E1524]]

David (Carol) Lanza of Mineral Ridge and Edward (Donna) Lanza of 
Cortland; three daughters, Linda Allen, Elaine Taylor and Marilyn 
Porec, all of Warren; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; 14 
great-great grandchildren; and a longtime friend and companion, Jean 
Parke; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 
Besides his parents and wife, Sam was preceded in death by a daughter, 
Margaret ``Peggy'' Eaton; three brothers, Joseph, Louis and Charles 
Lanza; and a sister, Lena Clark.
  Sam has left such an impact on our community and in the lives of his 
family and friends. I extend my most sincere and heartfelt condolences 
to his family and friends.

                          ____________________