Larry Dean Andersen

Larry Dean Andersen

Hopkinton

Larry Dean Andersen, of Hopkinton, passed away on March 20, 2024 at home surrounded by his family and their love. Larry was born on June 26, 1944 to Edward and Fern (Price) Andersen in the backseat of their car on Seventh Avenue, Marion, Iowa, next to the city park. After living in Viola he moved to Troy Mills at an early age and graduated from Troy Mills High School in 1962. After graduation he worked at Prince Feed and Iowa Manufacturing before joining the Air Force in November of 1964. Larry completed basic training at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, MS. He then served at radar sites in Finland, MN and North Bend – Coos Bay, OR. While stationed in Minnesota he met Coleen Hopkins through a friend and married her on October 20, 1967. They were blessed with two daughters, Melissa Jean and Tina Marie.

After leaving the Air Force Larry returned to Iowa with his family. Within a few years they settled in Hopkinton, where lived the remainder of his life. Larry took pride in his work as a welder. He worked at Iowa Manufacturing, Harnischfeger, Henderson Manufacturing and Scat Manufacturing. He also worked for Swiss Valley Creamery, Maquoketa Valley Schools, and Swiss Valley Ag Service.

Larry volunteered at the Hopkinton Fire Department for 20+ years, he was fire chief for eight of those years. He also served on the Hopkinton Ambulance Service as a driver and an EMT-I for 20+ years as well. He was a member of the American Legion, and the Hopkinton Community Church, serving on several boards, teaching Sunday School, Bible School and singing in the choir. When he retired because of health issues, he helped with senior meals and loved to visit with people, have coffee at the Showroom, and drive around town in his golf cart. He also mowed Lenox College until his health no longer allowed. In 2007, doctors at the Mayo Clinic told him that he should go home and plan a funeral due to advanced lung disease. Larry came home and said I will go when the good Lord calls me home and lived his life to the fullest, although there were many bumps in the road.

His favorite thing to do was to go to anything his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids were in. He loved to go to Flea Markets, collect fire department collectables and shot glasses. He enjoyed family reunions, picnics with the kids, and weekend adventures.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Coleen. daughters Melissa (Brian) Atkinson and Tina (Daren) Sharlow. Grandchildren, Ashley (Jon) Skretta, Garrett (Morgan) Atkinson, Jessica (Justin) Ziegler, Abigail Sharlow and Branden Sharlow. Great Children Lillian and Quinn Skretta, Kaitlyn, Luke and Natalie Zeigler, and new baby Atkinson due May 1. Sister Wilma Parrin and sister-in-law Sheri Andersen. In laws John (Maureen) Hopkins, Eugene (Cindy) Halvorson, Barbara (Joel) Novitske, Jerry (Tracy) Halvorson, Brian (Tammy) Halvorson, Nancy Krull, and Lisa Makely, and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in heaven were his parents, Ed and Fern Andersen, brother Leo Andersen, sister and brother-in-law Jeanne and Gene Carson, brother-in-law Robert Perrin, in-laws Jerome and Betty Halvorson, nephew Nicholas Aberle, niece Desiree Abel, and two great grandsons Crue John and Bentley Dean Atkinson, whom he cannot wait to play with.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Hopkinton Community Church in Hopkinton. Prior to the service, the family will greet friends from 9-11:30 a.m., Tuesday at the church.Donations can be made to the Hopkinton Meal Service, Hopkinton Fire Department, Hopkinton Ambulance Service, the family or you can donate to a cause that you hold close to your heart. Goettsch Funeral Home is assisting the family. Thoughts, memories and condolances may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Larry donated his body to the University of Iowa; a private family interment will be at a later date.