Lawrence Stanley Banas

Lawrence Stanley Banas beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away on June 17, 2026, at the age of 86.

Larry Banas was born May 7, 1940, in Hamtramck, Michigan to his parents Alexander and Bernice Banas.  He was the oldest of two children.  He grew up in the Polish-American and Catholic Christian communities of Detroit.  He graduated from De La Salle High School in 1958.  Larry attended the University of Detroit where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  

Larry proudly served in the U.S. Air Force at the rank of First Lieutenant as a Rocket Propulsion Engineer. He then transitioned to professional life. During his career, he spent over 30 years working at Ford Motor Company in Engineering for Heavy Truck, Light Truck and commercial vehicle (ambulance QVM) programs. 

Larry married the love of his life, Susanne Rathsburg, in Detroit, MI in 1964. They had four children.  They raised their family in Dearborn after having lived in California, Pennsylvania and Utica, MI.  They later moved to Howell for work and then retirement.

The most important things to Larry were faith, family, friends, music, and flying. 

Larry was an active member of the Catholic Church. He shared his musical talents by singing and playing different musical instruments in his parishes’ choirs for decades. He often performed solos during masses, weddings, and funerals. He helped pioneer more modern music into the Church after the Vatican II changes by playing guitar at mass. Later in life, Larry earned a degree in music from Madonna University. 

Larry loved his family, extended family, and friends very much. He bore the heartbreak of losing his son, Timothy, who passed away at the age of 23, by relying on his faith and his wife, as well as family and friends. He had many friendships; some lasting a lifetime. He was kind to everyone he met. Even near the end of his life, he exhibited concern and love for his caregivers, especially the Visiting Angels, the staff at Regency at Whitmore Lake, and his family.

Larry joined the U.S. Air Force but was too tall to meet the Air Force’s requirements for pilots. However, his love for flying continued after his service. He built and flew model planes. He earned his private pilot’s license. He later became a flight instructor, teaching and certifying others to become pilots. 

Lawrence will be missed by his wife Susanne Banas, his children Patrick (Dorota), Beth (Charlie) Williams, and Jonathan (Lynn), his grandchildren Jacob, Taylor, Katherine, Jardin, Robert, Finn, and Presley, many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, Timothy, his parents, Alexander and Bernice Banas, his sister Alexandra and her husband Edward Demanski. 

Lawrence’s family and friends will gather Tuesday June 23 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Country Church, 6805 Mast Rd, Dexter, MI 48130 beginning at 4:00pm followed by a scripture service at 7:00pm led by Deacon Larry Deford. His Mass of Christian Burial will also be held at St. Joseph’s in Dexter, MI at 11:00am, Wednesday June 24, preceded by a viewing at 10:00am. Father Brendan Walsh will serve as Presider. Lawrence will be interred with military honors at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Brighton, MI at 2:30pm Wednesday, June 24.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen Detroit.  Please leave a message of comfort for Lawrence’s family at 1-877-231-7900 or sign his guestbook at www.borekjennings.com.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.