Larry Gordon Nernes (1936-2011)

NERNES, SCOTT, KANGAS, GOOSIC, GEISLER, RHODES, LYONS, BOND, BROWN, MINER, MARKS, SLATER, FOOR, WATSON, KUSTER, THOMPSON, KANGAS, REITER, CHANDLER, PIERCE

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/10/2012 at 10:39:42

From Bacon Funeral Home & Crematory obituary, Nevada and Maxwell, Story County, Iowa:

Larry Nernes

November 7, 1936 - October 18, 2011
Leon, Iowa

Larry Gordon Nernes slipped peacefully into the world of angels on the morning of October 18th, 2011, having almost reached his 75th birthday.

On November 7th, 1936 Arnold Leroy and Faye Leota Nernes were blessed with a baby boy. Larry was born a little brother to Daryl Arnold Nerness in the home of their Grandma and Grandpa Scott. A few years later they were joined by their younger brother, Dwight Bruce Nernes. Some years later they had a sister, Connie Marie Nernes Kangas.

Larry grew up and attended school in Cambridge, Iowa first grade through eleventh where he took part in many school activities including his love - basketball. As a child he enjoyed spending time with his grandfather learning how to hunt and fish and singing on the local radio stations; KSO and KRNT. Larry reminisced happily upon his time growing up in this small town community and being surrounded by many relatives and friends.
In the spring of 1953 Larry joined the AIR National Guard before he left Iowa and joined the U.S. Marine Corps. In the summer of 1954, he took his basic training in San Diego, California and then served overseas in Korea, Okinawa, and Japan before returning stateside to serve in the Military Police at Cherry Point, North Carolina. In 1957 he completed his active duty and returned to his home in Cambridge.

After Larry's honorable discharge from the U.S. Marines Corps. He thrived for knowledge and that drove him down his path of spreading inspirational messages through knowledge and his love of people using his dream of a peaceful existence in the world. In the fall of 1957 Larry began his quest for knowledge by entering into Open Bible College in Des Moines, Iowa where he met his soul mate, Helen Fae Goosic, and in the Chapel on February 1st, 1958, they married. Soon after they were blessed with five children: Linda Charlene, Timothy Paul, Rebecka Fae, Mark Allen and LaRaine Stacey.

Larry completed his Theology training and received his degree at the Open Bible College and became an ordained minister. Then he went on to Boone Junior College in 1963 where he received his Associates of Art Degree. Two years later he enrolled into the University of Iowa where in 1968 he received his Bachelor of Science Degree and Sociology. He completed three and a half years of law school at Drake and Glendale College of Law. Through the years of working and raising a family he continued to further his education to include a Master's Degree in Non Profit Business Management from the University of San Francisco and then went on to do the Executive Training of Goodwill Industries where he took courses from eight different colleges such as Harvard, Cornell, Princeton University.

Throughout the time he was getting his education he worked many jobs to support his family and put himself through school but by far his most inspiring work was with Goodwill Industries. He began as a sales director in 1978 and worked his way up to President and CEO in Panorama City, California. He went on to be President and CEO in Beaumont, Texas and then moving to be President and CEO in St. Louis, Missouri. He was very well known for his ability to turn a store from ready to close to being a very productive agency. After working in St. Louis for eight years he did a first and merged Goodwill with a rehabilitation Company to create Mers/Goodwill of Central, Missouri. He was well respected and looked up to by many as he helped thousands of people throughout the years by continually improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and handicaps. His last eight years he spent as the Executive Consultant in St. Louis.

His love was helping people gain a better life through the programs with Goodwill and education in their own lives. He enjoyed his 37 year career with Goodwill Industries and he left due to a heart attack and surgery in March of 2010. His love for this organization remained strong. Had his health held, he had a vision to help people re-train and get back to work.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents Arnold Leroy Nernes and Faye Leota Scott Nernes Geisler, Step-father Gayle Robert Geisler and daughter Rebecka Fae Nernes.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 53 years, Helen. Two daughters: Linda Charlene Nernes Rhodes of Nashville, Tennessee and LaRaine Stacey Nernes Lyons of Ottumwa, Iowa. Two sons: Timothy Paul Nernes of Ottumwa, Iowa and Mark Allen Nernes of Leon, Iowa. Two daughter-in-laws: Cindi Bond Nernes of Leon, Iowa and Gina Darlene Brown Nernes of Ottumwa, Iowa. One son-in-law: Clifton Joseph Rhodes II of Nashville, Tennessee.
Larry was blessed to have ten grandchildren that he loved dearly: Robert Alcon Miner and fiancé Charlee Jo Marks of Indianola, Iowa. Kelda Stacey Rhodes Slater and husband Terry Slater of Hendersonville, Tennessee. Clifton Joseph Rhodes III and fiancé Courtney Renee Foor of Savannah, Georgia. Anthony Brian Nernes of Ottumwa, Iowa. Matthew Alexander Nernes and fiancé Kasey Watson Lambert of Lamoni, Iowa. Kaylee Gayle Nernes and fiancé Scott Kuster of Leon, Iowa. Kelby Wayne Nernes of Ottumwa, Iowa. F. Kevin Thompson II of Ottumwa, Iowa. Angelika Faye Thompson of Ottumwa, Iowa. Alayna Cheyenne Nernes of Ottumwa, Iowa.

Eleven Great Grandchildren: Talissa Slater of Bethlem, Pennsylvania. T.J. Slater of Hendersonville, Tennessee. Anthony Miner of Indianola, Iowa. Austin Nernes of Lamoni, Iowa. Noah Miner of Indianola, Iowa. R. Chandler Nernes of Lamoni, Iowa. Kai Slater of Hendersonville, Tennessee. Kalley Nernes of Ottumwa, Iowa. Tee Slater of Hendersonville, Tennessee. McClain Nernes of Lamoni, Iowa. Chloe Kuster of Leon, Iowa.

He left behind three siblings: Daryl Nernes and wife Sue Nernes of Osceola, Iowa. Dwight and wife Judy Nernes of Leon, Iowa. Connie Kangas of Rome, New York. Also sister-in-laws: Mildred and Ellis Brown of Temple, Texas, Nancy and Virgil Reiter of Polk City, Iowa, and LeRoy C. Goosic of Bondurant, Iowa.

One Uncle: Lynn Scott of Leon, Iowa. Two Aunts: Zelda Chandler of Rock Ledge, Florida. Ella Pierce of Albuquerque , New Mexico.

Larry also leaves countless nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and colleagues from around the country. He was well loved by many, many people and his legacy will live on forever through his family and work.

Larry's hobbies included: Raising registered Black Angus cattle, photography, writing and singing music, and reading books.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, October 22, 2011, at Bacon Funeral Home in Nevada; visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday evening also at the funeral home.

Larry will be interred in the Cambridge cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Central Iowa or the Cambridge Historical Association.

Bacon Funeral Home and Crematory is handling arrangements.

http://baconfuneralhomes.com/
 

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