Lawrence Dean TORKELSON

TORKELSON, CHAPMAN, JOHNSON, MADISON, TILLE, CLAY, FERNEAU, LAMBERT, MCPEAK, KLEVELAND, MCELROY, FRANKS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:00

Larry Torkelson
March 20, 1951 ---- January 15, 2020

Larry Torkelson, age 68 of Dakota City, passed away on January 15, 2020 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice House in Fort Dodge, Iowa. The family has honored Larry's wishes to have his body donated to the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt with Pastor Leila Disburg officiating. Visitation will be held at 9:00 AM until the time of the service on Saturday at Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt. Lentz Funeral Home Humboldt is serving the family.

Lawrence Dean Torkelson was born on March 20, 1951, the son of John and Delia (Chapman) Torkelson. Due to family circumstances, from the age of nine, Larry was raised by his paternal grandparents, Joe and Sophie Torkelson, in Livermore, Iowa. His aunt and uncle, Harold and Lois (Torkelson) Johnson were also instrumental in his upbringing. Larry was baptized into the Lutheran Faith and was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Livermore as a youngster. Larry was a 1969 Twin Rivers High School graduate and a 1971 Iowa Central Community College graduate, attending on the Eagle Grove campus.

Larry married Phyllis Madison on March 18, 1972, in Goldfield. To this union, two children, Traci and Mike were born. Later on, an adult daughter, Tracy, was welcomed into their family.

Larry was employed in the insurance industry for over 40 years, retiring from the Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company in 2017. Former insurance companies he worked for were the Ohio Casualty Group, and Economy Fire and Casualty. While employed with Ohio Casualty, Larry served on the catastrophe team, working on such events as Hurricane Andrew and others.

Larry’s interests included motorcycles, classic cars, golf, men’s slow-pitch softball, and traveling with Phyllis to Ohio nearly every summer to attend a family reunion. Larry’s main interest, however, was his own family. He took great pride in teaching them to have a good work ethic, teaching them handyman skills, and was willing to help them with most any project. Larry never forgot what his grandparents did for him, and always wanted to “be there” for his own grandchildren. Larry also took interest in the local community, serving on the Dakota City town council from 1982-1989. He became a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Humboldt where he served on the trustees and the staff-parish committee. Larry was well known for speaking his mind, but also for being a loyal friend.

Larry is survived by his wife, Phyllis; his children, Traci Tille (Michael Clay) of Humboldt, Mike and Michelle (Ferneau) Torkelson of Prairie Village, Kansas and Tracy Lambert of Hillsborough, New Jersey; grandchildren: Luke (Becky McPeak), Kayla, Stella, Aidan, Zachary, Madelyn, Billy, Krista, Hunter; great-granddaughters, Kinzlee and Gracelyn. He is also survived by his siblings, Allen Torkelson of Wichita, Kansas, Leroy Kleveland of Joice, Lynn Kleveland of Scarville, Darlene McElroy of Augusta, Georgia and Bobbi Franks of Wooster, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; two sisters, Judy and Lea and his very special aunt and uncle, Harold and Lois Johnson.