Flanagan, Larry Joseph (1939 – 2020)

FLANAGAN, BUTERBAUGH, GABRIELSON, PIEPER, HOUSER, DAMMEN, BOIVIN

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 4/24/2020 at 17:20:38

Name of deceased: Larry Joseph Flanagan

Aged: 81 yrs, 5 days

Residence: Clive, IA (formerly of Harlan, IA)

Born: April 10, 1939; Buffalo Center, Winnebago County, IA

Died: April 15, 2020; Clive, Dallas and Polk counties, IA

Funeral services: Private service on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at Ewing Funeral Home in Belmond, IA. After Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, a visitation and Mass of Christian Burial will be scheduled at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Belmond, IA

Survived by: Wife, Nancy, married just one day short of 60 years, of Clive, IA; daughter, Dawn (spouse, Al) Pieper of Ankeny, IA and their children, Leah and Ben; son, Mike (spouse, Marci) Flanagan of Marion, IA and their children, Shawn, Steven and great-grandson, Patrick; daughter, Susie Flanagan Houser of West Des Moines, and her children, Charlie and Clare; daughter, Lisa (spouse, Mike) Dammen of West Des Moines, IA and their children, Hannah and Izzy; and daughter, Linda (spouse, Pat) Boivin of Geneva, IL and their children, Brendan and Gabe; brothers, Alan (spouse, Colleen) of Cedar Rapids, IA and Robert (spouse, Janis) of Waterloo, IA; aunt, Lina Buterbaugh; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Alice E. (nee Buterbaugh) and Neil V. Flanagan; sister, Janis; grandson, Scott Flanagan

Education: Graduated from Belmond (IA) High School, Class of 1957, and from Iowa State College (now Iowa State University) in 1961. Larry was a lifelong learner, always advancing his professional development.

Religious affiliation: Catholic; he and Nancy were faithful members of St. Francis Xavier Church in Belmond, St. Michael’s Church in Harlan, and St. Francis of Assisi Church in West Des Moines, IA; he enjoyed serving as mass lector in all 3 parishes

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Nancy Gabrielson; April 16, 1960; location not provided

Employment: While in high school, he managed the Luick Memorial Pool during the summers. After graduating from Iowa State, he joined Montgomery Wards and managed stores in Marshalltown, IA, Cedar Rapids, IA and Hastings, NE, until his father’s sudden death in 1964. Larry and Nancy, with their young family, returned to Belmond to run the family business, Flanagan Agency, with his mother, Alice. He eventually grew the business to offer financial securities.

Larry was passionate about volunteering in his community. He co-founded the Belmond Industrial Development Corporation (BIDCO) in 1965 and served as volunteer president for over 30 years. In 1997, he was awarded the first lifetime membership to BIDCO and was honored as its Citizen of the Year. He was instrumental in numerous marquee economic development projects, namely securing the decision in 1980 by global manufacturer Eaton Corporation to locate its major new North American plant in Belmond. Another of Larry’s favorite projects was leading the team effort to rebuild the Belmond Lyric Movie Theater for generations to enjoy.

After the massive EF5 tornado that tore through the business center of Belmond in October 1966, leaving mass devastation behind, Larry and fellow business owners and community members worked tirelessly for months to rebuild. Their efforts garnered state and federal financial grants and recognition resulting in the rebirth of Belmond’s central business district.

In 1979, Larry and Nancy moved to Harlan, IA, where Larry became Economic Development Director for the Harlan Chamber of Commerce. There he formed Shelby County DevelopSource, serving as Executive Director until 2005. He was awarded the Governor’s Volunteer Award in 2001 by then-Governor Tom Vilsack, and, in 2004, Larry was honored as the Small Business Administration’s Advocate Champion of the Year for the State of Iowa.

In 2005, Larry and Nancy relocated to Grimes, IA, to be closer to his children and grandchildren. In semi-retirement, Larry continued to share his talents at American Republic Insurance Company and Krist Insurance Services in the Des Moines area.

Hobbies/Interests: Larry was an active member of the Belmond Jaycees and Knights of Columbus, handing out thousands of Tootsie Rolls and receiving numerous volunteer awards over his years of service. He was a past member and/or board member of the Belmond and Harlan Knights of Columbus chapters, the National Association of Realtors, the Iowa Association of Realtors, the Wright/Hamilton Board of Realtors, the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Iowa, the Southwest Iowa Coalition, and the Professional Developers of Iowa. He enjoyed traveling, reading the Des Moines Register, taking family fishing trips, stamp/coin collecting, cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones, and growing to love the Iowa Hawkeyes, competitively playing Michigan Rummy, 500, Farkel and Spoons with family and friends, and attending the grandkids’ activities.

Sources: harlanonline.com; ewingfm.com