Obituaries : Larry E. Hopper

Larry E. Hopper
(March 28, 1937 - October 29, 2012)

Larry E. Hopper, 75, of Toledo, passed away Monday, October 29, 2012 at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, November 5, 2012 at 10:30 AM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama with Chaplain Harlan Nuss officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. A Memorial Visitation will be held Sunday, November 4, 2012 from 4-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home. Larry was born on March 28, 1937 in Vinton, Iowa, the son of Lloyd and Lola (Fox) Hopper. He graduated from Vinton High School. On September 27, 1959, he was united in marriage to Kathy Karkosh in Vinton, Iowa. From 1956-1959, Larry drove truck from farm to dairy, hauling milk for Garrison Creamery. He then went to work for Concrete Material out of LeGrand for ten years. He spent the remainder of his working years with the D.O.T out of Tama, spending thirty-one years there and retired in 1998. He drove semi for Bituminous Material in the summer for ten years and in the winter he wintered in Texas. He also broke draft horses for two years at Pipe Creek, Texas. He spent twelve years wintering in McAllen, Texas, enjoying the warm weather, fruit, and other retirees. His passion was gardening, fishing, and woodworking. He also enjoyed talking and storytelling. Preceding him in death were his parents; and one brother, Charles Hopper. Survivors include his wife, Kathy of Toledo, two children, James Hopper (Soe Soe Kyi) of Toledo, and Lisa Hopper of Waukee; two grandchildren, Joe Hopper and Jennifer Hopper; three brothers, LeRoy (Pat) Hopper of Bozeman, MT, Terry (Pam) Hopper of Ft. Dodge, and Jack (Pat) Hopper of Vinton. Memorials may be directed to Iowa River Hospice.