Obituaries : Larry K. Michael

VINTON – Larry Keith Michael, 80, died Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehab in Vinton.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 13, 2014 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton with Rev. Dr. Judith Bunyi officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church on Monday. Interment with full military rites will be in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa, at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 14.

Larry was born March 11, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of L.A. and Lois Baker Michael. In 1947, his family moved to Vinton. Larry graduated from high school in Vinton in 1953. He was active in sports and Boy Scouts, earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

In 1955, while a student at Upper Iowa University, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. At his graduation ceremony from Upper Iowa in 1957, Larry was sworn into active duty in the Marines. On June 9, 1957, he married Daryls Williams in Vinton. She preceded him in death in 1972.

Larry served his country for over 22 years in the Marine Corps as an artillery officer, with tours of duty in Vietnam, Okinawa, Japan and Cuba. He retired in 1977, having attained the rank of Major. Following his retirement from the Marines, he worked for the San Diego Court System for ten years. He is a proud member of the Marine Corps League, the Military Officers Association of America, a lifetime member of the Ray and Virginia Boyer American Legion Post #166 in Shellsburg and a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton.

He is survived by his son, Brian Michael, of Israel; his daughter, Rebecca Michael, of Moss Beach, CA; his grandson, Caleb Longo, of Oakley, CA, his adopted daughter, Christine Michael of San Diego, CA; one brother, Ron (Kay) Dowd of Vinton; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents, his stepmother, Deloris Michael and his sister, Joan Harrison.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Larry and his family. Condolences may be left at vsrfh.com.