Darrell Rodney LARSON

LARSON, SCHEPPLER, FIELDER, KENNEDY, UNSWORTH, MALCOLM, MITCHELL, GREEN, EVERSON, KESSNER, GILLIS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/28/2015 at 15:04:50

August 2, 1929 --- October 19, 2015

Rodney Larson, 86, of Webster City, died Monday, October 19, 2015 at his home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Webster City with Reverend Mike Kroona officiating. Burial will be in Cass Township Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, October 23 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the church.

Darrell Rodney Larson, son of Oscar D. and H. Irene (Scheppler) Larson was born on a farm north of Holmes, Iowa on August 2, 1929. He was confirmed at the Holmes Lutheran Church and graduated from Clarion High School in 1947. He attended St. Olaf College for two years and returned home to farm with his father northeast of Webster City.

He married the love of his life, Gertrude (Trudy) Maye Fielder on June 7, 1953 in Webster City and enjoyed over 62 years together. In 1956 Rod began his own crop farming operation, Larson Farms. It grew to include raising feeder cattle and hogs (farrow to finish). He received The Outstanding Young Farmer Award and gave many educational tours about his operation, including to a group of Embassy Wives. He later became a real estate broker for Agra Partners and Farmers National Company, where he won many prestigious awards, and was named an outstanding realtor by Realtor's Land Institute. He was blessed to have his partner Trudy working by his side for it all.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he served as a President, Sunday school teacher, and on various committees; Rotary Club (past president and Paul Harris Fellowship Recipient), and Birthday Club. He was a Cass Cardinals 4-H Leader, Cass Township Clerk, and a member of Toastmasters Club, Iowa Corn and Soy Bean Associations, and Pork Producers. He served as President of Hamilton County Beef Producers, Extension Council, Webster City Multiple, Wright and Hamilton County Realtor Board, and Iowa Central Farm Business Association.

He is survived by his wife, Trudy; daughter, Rosine Maye Kennedy of Webster City; sons, Thomas Oscar (Kimra) of Blairsburg and David Rodney (Jolene) of West Des Moines; and Darlene Malcolm (Stephen) Unsworth who became his daughter in 1975 when she entered his life as a Rotary exchange student from South Africa. Grandchildren left to cherish his memory; Tiffany and Amanda Larson, JoAnna (Robb) Mitchell, Jenae Kennedy (Jordan Green), Joel (Maggie) Kennedy and Karissa (Ben) Everson, Alex, Tanya, Zachary, Matthias, Maria, and Catherine Larson; great grandchildren, Cora and Della Kennedy, Jace Green, and Ryder Mitchell; brother, John O. Larson; sister, Betty Kessner; brothers-in-law, Harold (Lorraine) and William (Diana) Fielder; sister-in-law, Grace Gillis; several nieces, nephews, and good friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Earl and Katie Fielder; son-in-law, Dick Kennedy; brothers-in-law, Bob Kessner and Keith Gillis; and sister-in-law, Cassondra Larson.

He was voracious reader, enjoyed playing 500 in two card clubs, and loved being with his family and friends. He and Trudy enjoyed traveling, especially on the People to People Tour to Russia.

October 21, 2015
The Daily Freeman Journal - Webster City, Iowa