Fred “Honey Badger” Lanzer formerly of Farmer City, died on Monday, Aug. 14, 2023 in Lakeland, FL. He was 74 years old.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, Aug. 24, from 10 a.m. until the funeral at 11 a.m., all at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City, FL. Mr. Lanzer will be laid to rest beside his wife at Evergreen Cemetery in Davenport, FL.
Mr. Lanzer was a graduate of Hillsboro High School with the class of 1967. His parents owned and operated The A&W in Schram City for many years.
He was born on Sunday, June 26, 1949, in St. Louis, MO, to Walter and Emma (Saudner) Lanzer and moved to Davenport, FL in 1999 from Lake Wales, FL.
Mr. Lanzer retired from a 24-year career at Walt Disney World, where he worked mostly as an attraction mechanic. He had previously worked a few years in buses as a mechanic, and housekeeping. It was here that he earned the nickname “Honey Badger,” as he was very stubborn on how things had to be done and doing them efficiently and no manner of threat stopped him.
Prior to his job at Walt Disney World, he worked as a diesel mechanic and in power plants around the world. After his wife’s passing in 2016, he became a bell ringer for The Salvation Army. He stood faithfully every year between November and December in front of the Publix at Champion’s Gate.
In addition, Mr. Lanzer was also a proud veteran of the United States Navy, serving as an Engineman Third Class aboard the USS Gallant in Vietnam.
He was a member of the Lake Alfred Lions Club, where his love of Bingo flourished, and a lifetime member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars, Post 6190 in Farmer City, as well as the American Legion, Post 400 in Orlando, FL.
When at home, he could be found watching his movies, anything from action to comedic dramas, or football, especially cheering for the Chicago Bears or Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While he was able, he enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and had a number of completed ones framed. A huge wrestling fan, he could just about name every wrestler there was. He was also a car lover; he enjoyed collecting model cars, and doing maintenance on everyone’s car, van or truck.
Mr. Lanzer enjoyed people. He loved striking up conversations and learning about them. He loved children and babies, and usually tried to get them to crack a smile and laugh.
He loved dogs, and was always ready to pet them and talk to them. He enjoyed watching wildlife, especially the birds that came by his house, and had a squirrel who came by every morning to have a peek inside through the back sliding door. He supported many animal charities.
Mr. Lanzer is survived by his loving family, a son, Terry (wife Elisa) Lanzer and his wife, Elisa; daughters, Jennifer Lanzer and his fur-granddaughter, Bailey, as well as Yorleny “Babu” (husband James) Lanzer-Davis; and sisters, Helen (husband Forest) Worstell of Rantoul and Mable Murray of Schram City.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Yorleny Lanzer.
