Lawrence H. LARSON

LARSON, VOSS, BARNES, NELSON, WENZEL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/6/2010 at 12:44:22

September 12, 2007
Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa

BELMOND, Iowa — Lawrence H. (Larry) Larson, of Belmond and formerly of Rockwell City and Thornton, was called to his Heavenly Home on Wednesday (Aug. 29, 2007) in Scottsdale, Ariz., where he had resided near his daughter Kathryn, for the final eight months of his very fulfilled life. Born March 16, 1918, in Lohrville, Iowa, to Vegor and Lillian (Voss) Larson. He was 89 years old. He began working in the Rockwell City area where he met Lyda Barnes, a school teacher. Larry and Lyda were married June 30, 1940, in Sheffield. Four children were born to their union and survive them: Susan Nelson of Bloomington, Minn., Nancy Larson of Des Moines, Kathryn (Merlin) Wenzel of Phoenix, Ariz., and L. Joe (Kelly) Larson in Ankeny. He is also survived by his dear brother, Harold (Eldora) Larson of Pomeroy; five grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved and enjoyed teasing, and to whom his memory will probably always bring a smile. In his early life as a laborer, Larry spent one year working for the REA, living in a tent, moving across the Plains States. He was proud of the fact that he had helped set the original electric poles in Wright County! He and Lyda began farming in 1945. They farmed near Rockwell City, Laurens and Thornton. In 1963, they quit farming and moved to Belmond. He retired in 1979 to care for his beloved wife, Lyda, until her death from Alzheimer’s Disease. She has been awaiting his Heavenly arrival since 9-9-91.

His accomplishments were many. Larry served on the Belmond City Council for over five years, and served as mayor of Belmond from 1977 until 1996. He was a charter member of the Belmond Ambulance Service and served his community in that capacity for 23 years. He was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Jaycees in 1997. In 1998, he received the Iowa Volunteer Hall of Fame award, the first Wright County recipient of that award, presented to him by then-Gov. Terry Branstad. He will be remembered by those who knew him because of his servant’s heart, always willing to help others.

Larry’s children will honor his life in a memorial service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Belmond. The family will receive visitors at the church from 9 to 10 a.m. Private graveside services will be held. Memorials are preferred to Alzheimer’s Association, a cause dear to both Larry and Lyda, or to a charity of your choice.