John Laurant 

When asked how he first got involved in the Knights of Columbus, John relates that he had been hearing about it from “a certain priest and a certain deacon” and that, based on their positive descriptions of the workings of the Council he thought it might be good to get involved.  In this case, the informal recruiting work of Fr. Al Lis and Deacon Bob Jacqmin had a positive result, and John became a part of the Knights, advancing through the Third Degree.  He was initially concerned because of the fact that his work schedule made it all but impossible for him to attend meetings, but recalls being told that the meetings are important but that they are only a part of what the life of the Council is all about.  John proudly relates how he almost made his first meeting recently, but something came up that made his attendance impossible.  Even without the meetings, John has been an active part of the Council, taking part in Tootsie Roll drives and in the Younkers Warehouse sale, not to mention his work with the Altar Servers at St. Bernard Parish, a ministry he shares with Todd Mead.  The Council covers the cost of an annual appreciation outing for the Servers and John coordinates that event.

 

Many who are a part of St. Bernard Parish will recognize John through his ministry as a deacon; he was ordained to the permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Green Bay in October of 1993.  When John and his family first became a part of St. Bernard Parish back in 1974, he was involved in several of the ministries of the parish including Servers, Lectors and Parish Council.  After a while, he was invited to consider service as a deacon, but the time did not seem right.  Besides all that, his job requirements would restrict the time he would need for the formation program of the Diocese.  The family moved to Racine in 1979, but returned to Green Bay and to St. Bernard Parish in 1984.  Again, John became involved in the life of the parish through service as a minister of the Eucharist and in Confirmation preparation in the Religious Education program.  He also felt a call to have some more control of his time, so after some seventeen years in management with Prudential Insurance, John returned to his present position of District Agent.  In 1988, John and his wife, Lee Ann, made the decision that it was now the time was ripe for him to enter the formation program leading to ordination as a deacon.

 

John’s work keeps him in contact with what seems a staggering number of client families.  He finds that his usual work day begins around 8:30 AM but he is kept busy most nights of the week.  About half his time is spent in the office, and the rest at meetings or appointments.  He estimates twenty percent of his contacts are with referrals from existing clients.  Such a schedule does not seem to allow for much in the way of “free time” but he tries to keep Friday afternoons through Sundays as special family time.  He can also adapt his schedule to occasionally perform some ministry as a deacon during the day by juggling some other responsibilities.  He thoroughly enjoys his ministry as a deacon and, as he looks toward retirement in a few years, he is starting to think about what impact that move will have on his ministry.

 

John and his wife, Lee Ann, have been married for nearly 32 years now and have three daughters.  She is involved with Social Concerns at St. Bernard and works for St. Vincent Hospital Day Care program.  For relaxation, John likes to read or to putter in the garden or putt on the golf course, the latter being something he’d like to get to do a bit more.  He and Lee Ann also like to take trips and have taken advantage of many opportunities afforded him through Prudential.  While attendance at meetings is something he wishes he could fit into his schedule, he is an example of just how involved a brother Knight can really be even without meetings.

 

March 1996