LARRY EUGENE PARR 1947 - 2020

PARR, MCCALL

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 7/2/2020 at 08:15:48

Onawa Democrat
20 May 2020

Larry Eugene Parr, age 73, of Battle Creek, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at his residence of Battle Creek, Iowa.

A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2020, at 11:00 a.m., at the Armstrong – Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa, with Pastor Harvey Hanson officiating. Military rites will be conducted by Dessel Schmidt #225 of the American Legion of Holstein, Iowa. Due to COVID-19 state and federal mandated guidance on gatherings, social distancing practices will apply during the funeral service. Committal will take place at a later date in the Grant Township Cemetery of rural Rodney, Iowa. The Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

Larry “Catfish” Eugene Parr was welcomed into the world by his parents Charles and Flossie (McCall) on March 13, 1947. Due to complications at birth, Larry’s mother Flossie passed away. Charles, a single father, placed his infant son into the loving arms of his Uncle Leland and Aunt Bernadine McCall.

He grew up on the family farm in rural Castana, Iowa, where he developed his kind, carefree fearless personality. During grade school Larry was the hula hoop champion and with the need for speed would drag race around the Sioux City and Onawa area. He also like entering into the local demo derbies.

In January of 1967, Larry enlisted into the United States Army. He served his country during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in February of 1970. After being discharged he rode his motorcycle home to Castana and dove back into life. He worked various jobs before he began his lifelong career trucking over the road to the lower 48, running coast to coast. You might have even shared a few chuckles on the CB with the handle “Catfish” along the way. With an outgoing personality, Larry had the ability to strike up a conversation, so he really never new a stranger. His need for speed would rise again and Larry would speed around in his beloved 1970 Torino Cobra.

When life would slow down you would find Larry rooting on his Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, casting a fishing pole, spending time with his family or in his garden. He was proud of his vegetable garden, fruit trees, and home canned bounty. Larry developed a fondness for working with his hands and enjoyed carpentry. No project was too big or small from making an entertainment center to a child’s picnic bench, he took pride in providing for his family.

When the snow would begin to fall and his favorite holiday Christmas would approach, Larry’s eyes would burn bright as Father Christmas handing out the gifts from under the tree. When the weather would warm up in the spring, summer and fall, Larry would fire up the BBQ and spend time with his family relishing in a meal along with stories of the good ol’ days. Until we meet again, “coming in loud & proud, hammering down in the big blue sky Catfish, over and out”.

Larry is survived by his children Toni “Gracie” Lacey of Logan, Iowa, Mike Parr of Nebraska, Clinton “Spark” Parr of Webster City, IA, Travis “Spook” (Deena) Parr of Onawa, IA, Holly “Smert” (Rodney) Regennitter of Holstein, IA and Larissa “Muff” (Patrick Kohn) Parr of Webster City, IA; 14 grandchildren: Justin “Bud”, Shayla “Whirly Bird”, Rebecca “Marty”, Peyton “Smurfy”, Sawyer “Bozo”, Hannah “Smurfette”, Natasha “Skeeter”, Aaron “Frizz”, Clancy, Mike, Trevor, Caleb, Shantel, Kelby “Sally”; six great-grandchildren: Aubree “Sadie”, Camden, Regahn, Journee, Kadyn, and Kinley; siblings Paul Parr of Castana, IA, Jack (Nora) Parr of Castana, IA, LeRoy (Ponce) Peterson of Clevland, OH, Roberta (Jerry) O’Dell of North Sioux City, SD, Bonnie Carlson of Ute, IA, Dennis (Linda) McCall of Smithland, IA, Mary Jane (William) Jacobson of Cedar Rapids, IA and Shirley (Eugene) Melby of Castana, IA; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Flossie Parr and stepmother Louise Parr; his loving uncle and aunt who raised him Leland and Bernadine McCall; sisters Barbara Parr and Bernice Link.

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