In August, my dear Uncle Larry had an accident while mowing that sent him to the hospital. When we left for Ireland on the 22nd, he was improving and moving into rehab for what Aunt Carole said would be a long road ahead to get his mobility back from a fractured vertebrae. That long road ahead was shortened and I learned of Uncle Larry’s death today while we were in Westport.

Aunt Carole and Uncle Larry have been faithful followers of our travel blog, and welcomed us to moochdock with our van in their driveway when traveling through NW Missouri. Uncle Larry loved having detailed maps and atlases to pour over when we talked about travels. I have a large road map of Texas where the two of them outlined their road trips taken while wintering in Fredericksburg. Uncle Larry loved to get in a car and drive.

Our extended family will miss Larry John very much. He was tall and strong and full of love for family and friends. My mom had childhood tales of her big brother and the teasing he dealt out to his younger sisters, but also the support he provided. I loved the picture of him in his army uniform with his siblings in front of the farmhouse. He had ahold of one of their arms “practicing” the arrests he would have to make as a future MP in Vietnam. Unfortunately, I don’t have a copy of this photo to include here.

I knew him as a railroad man with a huge collection of glass power line insulators, recognizing the art in these safety devices. He also grew up on a farm, and had a large property in Bucklin with barns and sheds to hold his tractor collection. He loved to go to tractor shows with fellow tractor-enthusiasts like his son, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other family and friends.

Entertaining with stories was so fun for Uncle Larry, and he had an amazing recall for people, dates, and events. We will all miss conversations with him at family gatherings.

Uncle Larry and my Aunt Carole were married in May 1970. Their loving, supportive relationship lead by example to show what a good marriage is like, and we were all blessed to know them as a couple.