Don A. Larimore
November 4, 1919 — August 29, 2007
Don Arthur Larimore was born in Avoca, Iowa, on November 4, 1919, in the third house north of the United Church which has now been torn down. He was the son of Arthur and Elsie (Schilling) Larimore and was one of four children in the family. His family moved to Monroe, Nebraska, and that is where Don grew up and attended school, graduating in 1937. Don and his family returned to Avoca later in 1937. He worked around the area for various farmers and also worked for the Rock Island Railroad and the Gamble Store.
Don enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and was sent to Idaho for his boot training. He later received a medical discharge because of an injury he had sustained at the age of 19. He then went to California to work for Douglas Aircraft, building airplanes. When the war began, Don helped build war planes and bombers.
While in California, Don married Harriet Applegate on April 14, 1941 in Venice. They had met previously in Oakland, Iowa, Harriet's hometown. They were not blessed with children but enjoyed a good life together for sixty three years until Hattie died on May 12, 2004.
Don and Hattie returned to the Avoca area and Don bought a cream route, working for the Avoca Creamery for eighteen years. After selling his route, he purchased the Avoca Bowling Lanes and they both worked there for nineteen years. It was sold and Don worked as a rural mail carrier until he retired in 1984. Don was a member of the United Church of Avoca. He enjoyed playing golf and working in his yard. He lived in the same house since 1955. He was also a member of the Pottawattamie County Last Man's Club, never missing a meeting. He has been a member of the Avoca American Legion Post since 1941.
Don has been a resident of the Avoca Lodge Assisted Living for about a year and that is where he died on August 29, 2007. He had attained the age of eighty seven years, nine months and twenty five days. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Hattie.
Don is survived by three sisters: Phyllis Bintz and her husband, Earl, of Neola, Iowa, Robin Thomsen and her husband, Beaner, of Kimballton, Iowa and Colleen Rutenbeck of Des Moines, Iowa; nieces and nephews: Gale Bintz, Becky Jacobsen, Mary Lefeber, Collette Rutenbeck, Charles Rutenbeck, Cris Briger, Lori Petters, Dawn Schueman, Sally Jacobsen, George Applegate, Cynthia Applegate, Shirlee Matthews, Nancy Stout, Donna Jo Price and Brian Applegate; many great -nieces and great-nephews and many friends.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 11:00 AM at the United Church of Avoca with Pastor Nancy Ross-Hullinger as the clergy. Serving as casket bearers were Paul Petters, George Applegate, Wayne Jacobsen, Dave Schueman, Gale Bintz and Charles Rutenbeck. Military Rites were given by the American Legion Fred Funston Post No. 227 of Avoca, Iowa. Interment was held in Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, Iowa
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Don enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and was sent to Idaho for his boot training. He later received a medical discharge because of an injury he had sustained at the age of 19. He then went to California to work for Douglas Aircraft, building airplanes. When the war began, Don helped build war planes and bombers.
While in California, Don married Harriet Applegate on April 14, 1941 in Venice. They had met previously in Oakland, Iowa, Harriet's hometown. They were not blessed with children but enjoyed a good life together for sixty three years until Hattie died on May 12, 2004.
Don and Hattie returned to the Avoca area and Don bought a cream route, working for the Avoca Creamery for eighteen years. After selling his route, he purchased the Avoca Bowling Lanes and they both worked there for nineteen years. It was sold and Don worked as a rural mail carrier until he retired in 1984. Don was a member of the United Church of Avoca. He enjoyed playing golf and working in his yard. He lived in the same house since 1955. He was also a member of the Pottawattamie County Last Man's Club, never missing a meeting. He has been a member of the Avoca American Legion Post since 1941.
Don has been a resident of the Avoca Lodge Assisted Living for about a year and that is where he died on August 29, 2007. He had attained the age of eighty seven years, nine months and twenty five days. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Hattie.
Don is survived by three sisters: Phyllis Bintz and her husband, Earl, of Neola, Iowa, Robin Thomsen and her husband, Beaner, of Kimballton, Iowa and Colleen Rutenbeck of Des Moines, Iowa; nieces and nephews: Gale Bintz, Becky Jacobsen, Mary Lefeber, Collette Rutenbeck, Charles Rutenbeck, Cris Briger, Lori Petters, Dawn Schueman, Sally Jacobsen, George Applegate, Cynthia Applegate, Shirlee Matthews, Nancy Stout, Donna Jo Price and Brian Applegate; many great -nieces and great-nephews and many friends.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 11:00 AM at the United Church of Avoca with Pastor Nancy Ross-Hullinger as the clergy. Serving as casket bearers were Paul Petters, George Applegate, Wayne Jacobsen, Dave Schueman, Gale Bintz and Charles Rutenbeck. Military Rites were given by the American Legion Fred Funston Post No. 227 of Avoca, Iowa. Interment was held in Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, Iowa
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