Larry W. Armstrong

ARMSTRONG, SIRDOREUS, GLENN, COOPER, HAINES

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 4/5/2006 at 14:09:24

Winterset Madisonian
1978

Winterset Grad Killed in Younkers Fire

A former Winterset resident, Larry Wayne Armstrong, 27, was killed Sunday, Nov. 5, in the fire that destroyed the Younkers department store at Merle Hay Shopping Center in Des Moines. He was a 1968 graduate of Winterset High School, living in Norwalk.

The Younkers fire has been described as the costliest in terms of life and property in the history of Des Moines. Nine other persons are confirmed dead.

Larry Armstrong was born April 23, 1950, in Des Moines, the son of John and Mildred Glenn Armstrong. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy from December, 1972 until December, 1976 and worked as an electrician.

He was married to Cathy Sirdoreus on August 26, 1969, in Omaha, Neb. She survives her husband.

A member of the Iowa Air Guard, Armstrong was also a member of the Y-Indian Guides.

Armstrong was affiliated with the First Christian Church of Winterset.

Other survivors include his step-father, Byron Cooper and mother, Mildred, both of Winterset; two sons, Brad and Jon at home; two brothers, Gary of Des Moines and Ricky of Winterset and a half-sister, Faye Haines of Winterset.

He was preceded in death by his father and his four grandparents.

Funeral services for Larry Armstrong were conducted at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday from Collins Funeral Home with Pastor Earl Swigart officiating. Burial was made at Winterset cemetery with military graveside services.