Larrison, Frederick John 1935-2022

LARRISON, VARNER, FELTON, CONLEY, SMITH, MILES, GAYDOS, MOORE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/10/2022 at 21:30:42

Frederick J. Larrison
SEPTEMBER 19, 1935 – JUNE 17, 2022

Frederick John Larrison, 86, passed away Friday, June 17, 2022 in Des Moines. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel in West Des Moines. Memorial services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday at McLaren’s with entombment at Resthaven Mausoleum.

Fred was born on September 19, 1935, in Newton, Iowa, to Genevie (Varner) and Charles Larrison. He attended Newton schools and graduated in 1953. During high school, he was active in sports including football, basketball, and track. During his senior season, he was student manager of the basketball team. He also played on the 1952-53 varsity football team which went undefeated and was voted mythical state champion. Fred served in the National Guard for 12 years and was on active duty for two of those years.

He started working for the Water Department in Newton after graduation and worked there for approximately seven years. Then he worked for Culligan in Newton and West Des Moines and moved to West Des Moines about 1964. In 1966, he founded Iowa Soft Water, Inc. and owned the company for approximately 40 years.

Fred stayed active in sports after graduation. He played softball and basketball and sponsored numerous teams through Iowa Soft Water. Fred was passionate about golf and played as often as possible. During the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, he and other members from Willow Creek Golf Course sent thousands of golf balls and hundreds of golf clubs to the troops. Another activity Fred enjoyed was fishing. He especially liked to go to Canada with friends and family.

He married Carol Felton in 1958, and they had three children. Fred then married Cordelia Conley and then Catherine (Kay) Smith in 1993. He and Kay resided in West Des Moines and spent 28 wonderful years together.

Fred lived a life of caring for family, always expressing his concern for our safety. He also lived life with humor and left this legacy for his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Fred was always in great humor—smiling and whistling and a pure joy to be around. He was accepting of all his family members’ decisions, supportive and never judgmental, and was the light of his three children’s lives.

Fred is survived by his wife, Kay; children, Dr. Tracey Larrison, Darwin (Kris) Larrison, and Amy (John) Miles; step-daughter, Shannon (Kevin) Gaydos; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and brother, David Larrison. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Karen Moore; and brother, Terry Larrison.

Memorials may be directed to the sports department at Newton High School.

Past Services
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2022
Visitation
THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2022
Memorial Service ~ The McLaren’s Resthaven Chapel & Mortuary & Resthaven Cemetery
West Des Moines, Iowa 17 June 2022.