Larry White
The Angels are smiling today. Some of them are smiling because Larry finally got to Heaven after teasing those angels a few times before that he might be on his way. And a few angels are smiling because they were surprised that Heaven was his final destination.
Larry Daniel White was born February 13, 1949 in Waukon to Uvonne “Vonnie” and James “Bob” White. He went to sing with the angels January 26, 2021. Services for Larry were held Tuesday, February 2 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be directed to Veterans Memorial Hospital and Good Samaritan Home in Waukon or to the family for other local memorial gifts. Condolences may be sent to Barb White at P.O. Box 99, Waukon, IA 52172.
He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. He attended St. Patrick’s school through eighth grade and then transferred to the public school. He graduated from Waukon High School in May 1967. After graduation he attended NIACC and Drake University.
June 9, 1973, he made the smartest decision of his life when he married Barb Beardmore. (His words).
To this union were born three children: Dana (Joe) Johnston of Trempealeau, WI, Robert White of Des Moines and Jared White of Onalaska, WI.
His primary career was Leadfree Enterprise, which he owned and operated for 15 years. After medical issues, he began a career in sales and marketing. Most recently he and his son, Jared, co-owned and operated Heaven Sent, a pet cremation business.
Larry is survived by Barb, his wife of 47 years; his children, Dana (Joe), Rob and Jared; and his three grandchildren, Lexi, Nolan and Franklin. His first great-grandchild is due in March.
He is also survived by his siblings, Dick (Shirley) White of Colorado, Stan (Janet) White of Iowa City, Leah Cohen of Iowa City, and Cheryl White, Denise (Jack) Hager, Margo Sweeney, Mark White and Lisa (Randy) Murphy, all of Waukon; and Barb’s siblings, George (Helen) Beardmore of Dorchester, Joan (Steve) Malm of Indiana and Jim (Becky) Beardmore of Minnesota.
He is additionally survived by his godchildren, Christy O’Neill, Rachel White, Shane Murphy and Taylor Beardmore. Further survivors include numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Glenn and Rae Beardmore; his nephew, Jef White; and his brothers-in-law, John Beardmore and Jim Sweeney.
Larry was one of a kind (some might say Thank God. One was enough). Larry was a happy man. He loved life and having fun. Everyone reading this will have a Larry story. Some of them are outrageous and many of them are best left unwritten. He had a huge, kind heart. He was a legendary host and a generous employer. Helping folks in need came naturally to him, but that was mostly private between Larry and God. Others didn’t need to know he’d done it. Those receiving didn’t need to know where the help came from. Larry had a strong faith with roots at St. Patrick Church which enabled him to go about his life with the full knowledge that God knew him, loved him and forgave him.
In the last few years, Larry’s health has kept him close to home. He hasn’t been able to be the gregarious guy we all knew for so long.
We will always have a smile when we think of Larry. He just made you smile.
What Larry mostly leaves to his children isn’t material, but rather he left them the greatest gift of all: the sure knowledge that he loved their mother with all his heart. She was the heart of his life. His children and grandchildren were the hearth that warmed him.
If there is any lasting thing Larry would want the world to know about him, it would be that he had a great life, a wonderful family and that he’s totally ready for the coming adventure. As he’d say, he lived the dash.
