Larry Dean Lange

Larry Dean Lange, age 87, of Coon Rapids, IA passed away peacefully on Friday, August 9, 2024 at his home surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, August 23, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church (2174 B. Ave Coon Rapids) with Pastor Alan Miller officiating.  Music for the service will be by Patti Patrick.  A luncheon will be held following the funeral service at the Coon Rapids American Legion.

A graveside service will be held at 2:30 P.M. on Friday at the Rose Hill Cemetery (270th St. and Preston Ave.) Rockwell City, Iowa.

Visitation will be held from 9:30-10:15 A.M. on Friday, August 23, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church near Coon Rapids prior to the service.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Coon Rapids and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

Larry was the first born of Otto and LaVon (Kirby) Lange in Sharpsburg, IA on April 17, 1937. Larry grew up in various farming communities in mid-west Iowa since his Dad worked as a farm hand and moved frequently where his interests were. In the late 1940’s Larry’s Dad went to work for Matticks Construction and settled in the Lohrville, IA area. Larry graduated from Farnhamville High School in 1955. He enlisted in the United States Army following high school and was stationed in Freeburg Germany. Larry was in the same battalion as Elvis Presley. Elvis entertained the guys on occasion at the NCO club and was said to always perform the same responsibilities as the rest of the recruits.

While serving in the states Larry completed Army Ranger Training and was a Drill Sargent at Ft Knox, KY. He was assigned a short time in Vietnam and Thailand at the beginning of the war and was stationed in Hawaii upon his honorable discharge. Larry returned to Iowa and attended auto mechanic school at Hawkeye Tech in Waterloo. Larry worked for Tom Kelley Ford in Fort Dodge until he purchased a semi and started hauling mobile homes.  From being self-employed he went to driving for many major over the road carriers driving coast to coast. The highlight was when his son Randy could go on the trips with him. He had so many stories, but the biggest one was when he got hit by a train in California. The train only caught the trailer which was loaded with produce…lettuce everywhere….He was really shook up, but fine. When he had covered all 48 states and driven a million miles he stopped counting.

Larry had the chance of a lifetime in 1976 when he was asked to drive the Liberty Belle built by Mid Iowa Kenworth out of Des Moines. It was built to attempt to set the world speed record for the Guiness Book of World Records on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Salt Lake City Utah. The Liberty Belle was built especially for this feat. Larry’s name is in the Guinness Book of records and that record has held until this day. Larry toured with the Liberty Belle to truck shows all over the US for one year after setting this record of 132.154 mph. Larry later worked for IBP in Storm Lake, drove grain trucks for New Coop out of Manson and Pomeroy and while living in Coon Rapids was on George & Marilyn Johnston Rock crew. Larry lived in Pomeroy for 40+ years before moving to Coon Rapids in 2005. Larry and Sandra (Sandy) went to Farnhamville high school together and went their separate ways upon graduating and many years later met at a Cedar Valley High School reunion and became reacquainted. They were married on December 31,2005 in Denver, CO at Mt. Zion LCMS and their wedding night was spent at the Historic Brown Palace Hotel in Downtown Denver. This was New Year's Eve so there was an awesome fireworks display at midnight right out their 10th floor window. There was also an orchestra playing and dancing on the first-floor foyer until past 2:00AM. From there he moved to Coon Rapids and spent the next 18+ years getting acquainted with the wonderful people in the town and traveling all over the US seeing many sites. Some of which were Smokey Mountains, Grand Ole Opry, Niagara Falls, Yellowstone, Big Sky Country, Branson, Cruised the Alaska inside passage, ground tour in Alaska Denali National Park and major Alaska cities, Helicopter tour over Oahu, Hawaii, and more. So many memories!

Larry had many passions, one of which was building jeep engines that were used in the mud racers that he built and drove in the many racing competitions he participated in. He carved out the tires to the pattern that gave the best winning edge and he usually took home the #1 trophy. He was part of a crew that was the pre-show at Vets Auditorium and other venues prior to the Big Foot performances, etc.

Larry’s yard had to be the best in the neighborhood, and he worked at it until it was. His John Deere Mowers had the absolute best care along with the pristine red pickup he was so proud of. Larry was a friend to everyone, especially his Trinity Lutheran buddies. He had a captivating smile. According to Larry, his family was the best of the best. Packing up and going on camping trips often when Randy was a child was so much fun. Being able to attend his granddaughter Chelsea’s graduation ceremony meant so much. Last fall at the apple orchard in Ft Dodge with his grandsons, Krew and Kingston was over the top. Larry got to spend his last Christmas with all of his family which made that Christmas even more special. Seeing the excitement of his two great-grandsons, Krew and Kingston open gifts and Santa actually come to the house was a great memory maker for everyone.

Larry is survived by his wife Sandra (Matticks/Smith), son Randy Lange of Palmer, IA, brother, Richard Lange of Kent, IA, granddaughter Chelsea (Lange) Reinert of Cherokee, IA, great-grandsons, Krew & Kingston Reinert. Bonus daughters, Deanna (Stone)Smith, Denise (Smith) Hamilton, ten grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren & one great-great-grandchild.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents Otto and LaVon Lange, First wife Delphine (Juilfs) Lange, sister Deanna (Lange)Frame, sister-in-law Judy Lange, bonus sons Gerald Smith and Robert Smith, and bonus grandson Rodney Smith.