LARCHE, Doug W. (1948-2021)

LARCHE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/4/2022 at 13:54:58

Doug W. Larche
(September 21, 1948 - August 27, 2021)

Services for Dr. Douglas Wayne Larche, 72, who passed away Friday, August 27, 2021 at home, will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with burial following in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Dr. Douglas Wayne Larche, MFA, PhD was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, to parents Harry and Myrtle (Drysdale) Larche. His family moved several times for education and coaching duties. Doug’s two younger brothers, Stephen and Harry “Gene” Larche joined the family. When their father completed his education, the family settled in Lamoni, Iowa where Doug graduated from the Lamoni High school. While attending, Doug performed in several plays and musicals and as a Senior played Emile DeBecque in “South Pacific”. He played quarterback for the Demons, led the jazz band on the clarinet, and as a baritone Doug sang with the Iowa All State choir. While their father attended classes in Indiana working toward his PhD, Doug and brothers enjoyed vacationing in McCormick’s Creek State Park. Doug spoke about these adventures often. The boys were extremely active exploring the park, including caves! Their mother had a lot on her plate! Doug attended Graceland College, where his father Harry was a football coach. While studying at Graceland, Doug was the sports editor for the college paper The Tower, quarterback for the Yellowjackets for a year before an injury ended his time on the field, and managed the Larche’s Pizza House which still stands and is known as the Pizza Shack. While attending a church world conference, Doug met Cheryl Knight. They married in Wichita, Kansas and had two children, Jason and Elisa. Doug completed his Masters in Speech Communications and Education at Wichita State University, and his PhD in Rhetorical Criticism at Indiana University. He taught as he learned. His first major job was teaching History and coaching football at Saydel High School near Des Moines. Doug and his family moved to Indianola, IA and he taught speech and coached forensics at Simpson College. He also wrote Father Gander Nursery Rhymes, inspired by the birth of his daughter. Doug’s step-mother Bonnie Larche, step-siblings Scott, Susan and Sandy Carpenter and the rest of the family joined his father. They became a big part of Doug’s life. During this time he connected with the students of Simpson College, who became his life-long friends. He pledged the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, agreeing only if he could pledge along-side the undergraduates. As always, he made music, writing for himself and enjoying his brothers’ songs and abilities. He was always so proud of his brothers. Doug and Cheryl divorced. Doug stayed close always so he could be there with and for his kids. In Indianola, Doug developed a relationship with Carousel Theatre, which would last the rest of his life. Doug worked in the Iowa State government in Very Special Arts Iowa and the Iowa Energy commission. He moved around Iowa, always striving to stay close for his children Jason and Elisa. He assumed full professorship and led the department of Speech and Theatre at Grandview College. He was able to stage many wonderful shows and again led a forensics team. He also married Susan Elliott and became step-father to Mark and Scott Kelley. During his tenure at Grandview, he took a sabbatical to study for an MFA in Playwriting. This opened the floodgates for Doug. He wrote continuously for the remainder of his life. His more well-known works include Angels in the Snow, which he co-wrote and composed with his son Jason and former partner Susan Elliott; Number the Stars, an adaptation of Lois Lawry’s novel; A Play on Words (Getting Pissed); and Truth on Trial, The Ballad of Sojourner Truth, and many more. With that new passion, Doug started a playwriting festival called Prairie Playwright. Doug left Grandview and headed back to the Iowa government with Governor Tom Vilsack. Tom was a man that Doug admired and who offered him the opportunity to work in his cabinet as Head Speech-Writer and eventually Director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Doug left Iowa in a search for life by the water, and due to a desire to travel. He lived in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan with Susan and sometimes Jason. He taught at the University of Wisconsin at Marinette and directed at Theatre on the Bay. He also hosted a playwriting festival. Susan taught English as a second language and brought many international students into Doug’s sphere and worldview. He and Susan took students into their home and traveled to visit family and sights of our beautiful country. Next, Doug applied for and was granted a Senior Fulbright position in Ukraine. Doug met and fell in love with students and their culture. He found a teaching hero in Taras Shevchenko, who was already a national hero to the people of his “Sweet Ukraine.” Doug went back to Michigan following Ukraine. His grandchildren, Emma and Logan were born while Doug lived in Wisconsin and Michigan. Doug delighted in being a grandfather and doted on his grandchildren. The true joy he experienced watching them grow was beautiful to see. Nieces, Leaura Marie “Molly” Larche, Vienna Larche, Geneva Larche and nephew Harry Larche, were a huge blessing to Doug. After his own father died, Doug looked at these kids as not only nieces and nephews, but de-facto grandchildren as well. He was so very proud of each one, and their accomplishments. He moved on to the University of the Virgin Islands in Saint Thomas. He loved his many students and most of the weather there, and he loved the new culture. Unfortunately, while in Saint Thomas, he lost his son Jason. This was almost more than he could bear. Doug continued in Saint Thomas for a short while. He and Susan parted. He took a year to teach English in Daegu, South Korea. He loved the culture and some things about the environment. He and Elisa traveled some in Asia together and this was a wonderful time for them to spend one-on-one together. Doug returned to the Virgin Islands, but ultimately it couldn’t hold him and he returned to his beloved Iowa. While visiting his family in the Chicago area, Doug met his fiancee MeiLi Han. MeiLi moved to Iowa City to be with Doug and they spent the rest of his life together. MeiLi’s daughter HanQi and grandson Lucius “Bobo” Coriglione came to be an important part of Doug’s life, as well. MeiLi writes, “Dear Doug, We always said that we were very happy to find each other and swore to spend the rest of our lives together, but today I lost my love forever! We have only been together for 4 years, but we had the happiest time together! You gave me unforgettable love, now this all becomes my wonderful memories. These warm memories will always accompany me and help me through every cold and lonely night! Don’t forget what you said, “you will wait for me in heaven and pick me up when it’s my turn.” Don’t let me walk this way to heaven alone. I will always be your MeiLi forever! Like you said, we could not be born on the same day but we will sleep together after death! I swear, that will never change. Wait for me, Dear!” A dream for Doug was to turn Angels in the Snow into a movie. Finally, he decided to do this himself. Plans were in the works when the pandemic hit. With the help of friends, family and former students, Doug made plans to make the movie anyway while being extremely careful. The movie remains in process, but our hope is to continue this work for Doug. Doug was many things; a son, brother, nephew, husband, father, step-father, father-in-law, uncle, cousin, grandfather, teacher, writer, playwright, composer, singer, guitarist, three-finger pianist, director, actor, film-maker, dramaturg, speech-writer, intellectual, friend. He lived so fully and expanded the world for so many around him. The world is a brighter place for him having been with us. None of those close to him will ever forget.
Visitation will be held 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, August 30, at Overton Funeral Home with family present from 5 to 8 p.m. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/