Lanny D. Husebo, 66, passed away unexpectedly in his sleep on June 9, 2018, in Leesburg, Florida. Born on August 22, 1952, in Eustis, Florida, to Wendell (“Wendy”) and Jean Husebo, he was the second of three children.
He married Jacqueline Swiderski on October 27, 1984, in Orlando, Florida. The young couple homeschooled four of their six children and lived in Leesburg in the same home all of their married life.
He was known as a kind and gentle man with a smile for everyone he met, never meeting a person he did not like. His family was notably most important in his life and, after that, his community.
Lanny first worked alongside his dad at WLBE, spinning records and rushing to cover weather events for the people of Lake County. He joined the family business, Husebo Advertising & Public Relations, as a teenager. He graduated from Mount Dora High School and Lake-Sumter Community College.
Lanny and his father were always close. They worked together at their Leesburg office for over 40 years. Early clients included Florida Telephone, Golden Gem Growers, and Citizens National Bank. With clients soon growing across Central Florida, they were awarded the contract for Lake County’s first TDC campaign. Over his career, Lanny coordinated over 700 public relations events in Lake County and 30 bank grand openings. Wendell passed in 2014, and Lanny moved the business to Mount Dora, with Jacqueline now working alongside him as CEO. The business celebrated 55 years this year.
Following in his father’s footsteps, he served his community his entire life. He taught in Sunday School and was Chairman on the Deacon Body at First Baptist Church early in his career. He was very involved with the Leesburg Rotary Club and was twice selected to be recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. He later became a member of Leadership Lake County and then of Lake 100.
Lanny has been on the Board of Directors for United Southern Bank since 2003, serving as Vice-Chairman for two years. Lanny gave his time to the board of Cornerstone Hospice of Lake, Orange, Polk and Sumter for three terms and to the ARC board, as well. He was a past member of the Leesburg Chamber of Commerce and current member of the Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce. He has attended Saint Andrew’s Chapel since 2010.
Cap League baseball was at the top of Lanny’s enjoyments for many years as he coached for all three of his son’s teams. After that, he helped to shuttle his three girls to ballet classes. He was known to play a fierce tennis game at the former Silver Lake Golf and Country Club and for running and working out at the gym, rarely ever missing a day.
Those who knew him knew of his love of chocolate. Brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and thick chocolate shakes were always on his menu.
Lanny is survived by his much-loved wife, Jacqueline, his children, Ben Husebo, wife Ayslinn Herndon Husebo (and their children, Hollis and Easton); Brian Husebo, wife Lisa Remillet Husebo (and their children, Rhiannon, Joseph, Daniel, Timothy, Samuel); Lancée Husebo Kurcab, husband Nathanael Kurcab (their son, Winslow); L. Wendell Husebo; Sophia Husebo; and Caroline Husebo.
A memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Chapel in Sanford on Friday, June 15 at 9:30 a.m. There will be a viewing at Beyer’s Funeral Home in Leesburg on Thursday evening, June 14, from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lanny’s name to Ligonier Ministries (www.ligonier.org) or to Rafiki Foundation (www.rafikifoundation.org).