Lawrence M. "Larry" Mason 1940-2006
CONRIN, MASON, WINTER, SMITH, ALEXANDER, NELSON, LOW, POLAND, MCDONALD, CONRIN, USHER, BURNETT, STAHR
Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 12/8/2006 at 08:44:06
Larry Mason
Lawrence M. "Larry" Mason, of Mason City, passed away Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn., following a massive heart attack. He was 66.
A memorial mass was held Tuesday, Nov. 14, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Mason City with Rev. Kenneth Gehling and Rev. Harry Koelker officiating. Private family inurnment services will take place at a later date. Memorials may be given to the Larry M. Mason Memorial Fund.
Larry was born Aug. 26, 1940, to John V. Mason and Beatrice (Conrin) Mason at Park Hospital in Mason City. He attended schools in Rockwell and Swaledale, then graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic High School in 1958. He went on to graduate from Waterloo Barber College in 1959. He served his apprentice barbering at Harry Tyler's Barbershop in Postville.
Larry married Gloria Winter Sept. 5, 1960, at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Postville. Three children were born of this union, Dianna, Lauri and Daniel.
The Mason's moved to Mason City in 1962 where Larry worked for Art Bartelt at Service Barbershop. In 1968, partnering with Nyle Rippentrop they started Highland Barbershop. In the early 1970s Larry purchased Service Barbershop. In 1975, Sheriff Gerald D. Allen hired Larry to work at the Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office. Larry graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 1977. In his years at the Sheriff's office, Larry worked in every enforcement related department and attained the rank of Chief Deputy under Sheriff Robert Balek. Larry served the county as Sheriff for six years retiring in 2000. Larry loved his law enforcement career and helping the citizens of the county. He was a true public servant.
Larry held several retirement jobs as a courier for Velocity and Priority Express. Most recently he was employed as a driver for Mason City Transit. His retirement years were very special, as he made many new friends throughout northern Iowa. Larry was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and the Moose Lodge.
He was a people person who truly employed meeting and getting to know new people. He always had a joke to tell. He especially enjoyed all the doctors and nurses he met at Mayo Clinic during his illness. His cardiac nurse related that he was having fun teasing the staff right to the end. Larry enjoyed watching television, especially old movies, sports and news events. He also enjoyed golfing and playing cards. However, his greatest joy was his family. No matter how sick he was, he always perked up when any of his children or grandchildren were with him. He was so very proud of them.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law, Alfred and Olivia Winter; sister-in-law, Eileen Smith and all of his aunts and uncles.
Larry is survived by his wife of 46 years, Gloria of Mason City; three children, Dianna Lynn Alexander and husband Roy, Lauri Marie Nelson and fiancée Tom Wickwire and Daniel Lawrence Mason all of Mason City; six grandchildren, Jeremy Low and wife Jessica, Jennifer Low, Jayme Low and fiancée Greg Bryant, Jordan Alexander, Taylor Nelson and Chase Nelson all of Mason City; one sister, Lori Poland and husband Greg of Surprise, Ariz.; two nephews, Jeff and Chris McDonald of Phoenix, Ariz.; two aunts-in-law, Dorothy Conrin of Mason City and Lois Conrin of Plattsmouth, Neb.; three sisters-in-law, Doris Usher of Brighton, Colo., Ione Burnett of St. Louis, Mo., Carol Stahr and husband Scott of West Union; three brothers-in-law, Eldred Winter and wife Ethel of Yuma, Ariz., Marvin Winter and wife Janet of Postville and Eugene Winter of Cedar Rapids; many cousins, nieces and nephews-in-law and numerous close friends especially Jim and Marla Gaubatz and their family.
Postville Herald-Leader, November 15, 2006
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