"We are sorry to hear about Uncle Larry's passing. He was a wonderful man. We are very thankful for the time we spent visiting with him this last March. We got hear Larry reminisce about family and see his love and passion of wood working. We will hold on to those memories of him. Love, Parvaneh and Greg"
In loving memory of
Pastor Walden Arthur Askren
January 6, 1929 - January 19, 2010
Walden Arthur Askren MUSCATINE, Iowa - Walden Arthur Askren, 81, of Muscatine, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City following a short battle with pneumonia and complications. Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2010, at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services. The Rev. Dennis Hakes of Walnut Park Baptist Church will officiate the services with Jake Rosekopf assisting. Burial will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery. Following the services a time of fellowship will be held at the Geo. M. Wittich-Lewis Community Room. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday, January 22, 2010, at the funeral home. The family requests memorials, in lieu of flowers, be directed to the Walden Askren Student Scholarship Fund at First National Bank, Muscatine. Walden was born on January 6, 1929, in Columbia, the son of Harold Jud and Rilla Irving Askren. He attended Williamson Country schools, and graduated from Chariton High School in 1947; Northwestern Bible College, Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1953; and Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, in 1957. He married Pauline Sellers on August 29, 1948, in Chariton. He was a loving husband, father, and pastor, serving congregations in Minnesota, Oregon, Idaho, Arizona and Iowa for more than 60 years. He eagerly served to the very end having preached the Sunday before he entered the hospital. In the last 18 years he served multiple congregations in Eastern Iowa as interim pastor, preacher and calling pastor. His great passion was seeing people come to Jesus Christ for salvation and restoration. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, and watching sports, but his greatest love was preaching and teaching. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Pauline Askren; children, Doug Askren and wife, Terry, of Naperville, Illinois, Linda Boyd and husband, Terrence of Hibbing, Minnesota, Phil Askren and wife, Marge of Andover, Minnesota, Wes Askren and wife, Robyn, of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and Stan Askren and wife, Mona, of Muscatine; 18 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother, Lyle Askren and wife, Betty, of Rockford, Illinois; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Wanda (Harold) Russell and Wilma (Homer) Ballard; an infant son, Neil Askren and an adult daughter, Karen (Jeff) Wood.
Tributes
"Sherry and family, Our condolences at the passing of your Dear Father. He was the 'concrete' guru that we trusted like no one else. He was such a gentle soul. Keep your memories close to your hearts and know we all care. Our Sincere Sympathy, Gaylene and Jim Ryan"
"To the family of Larry Vonch, I'm very sorry about the loss of your loved one. I wanted to share the scriptural hope that has given me so much comfort. I hope it will help you also. The Bible shows that God did not intend for humans to suffer, grow old and die. (Romans 5:12). It also calls death an enemy. (1 Corinthians 15:26). God promises to remove death forever. (Isaiah 25:8). He also promises to soon restore the earth and humans to his original purpose for them. Then he will resurrect our loved ones onto a cleansed, paradise earth where we can welcome them back. (John 5:28,29; Psalm 37:10,11,29). Please visit jw.org to find satisfying answers from the Bible, free of charge. I truly am sorry for your loss. Sincerely, Susan Novak "
"I have so many fond memories of Grandpa I struggled to pick just one. Two of them jump out the most to me. I remember when he was adding on to our concrete steps on our back door. I must have been 4 or 5 years old. While the cement was drying I put my hands in it to make hand prints. When grandpa found it he asked if it was me. I denied it (like the tiny hand prints would have been anyone else). He didn't get mad, he just fixed it and smiled. The second memory was at their house when they still lived in Rochester. We were staying over night and I had set up my sleeping bag on the living room love seat. As grandpa walked by I bragged that I had the comfiest bed in the whole place. He said "let me see!" So I got up and let him lay down on it. "Oh! That is comfortable!" He exclaimed. When I got back in my bed I was mad at him for smooshing everything down and making it less comfortable. But I do remember that now it smelled like his cologne. I will never forget those fond memories at the cabin on the river. Where I learned to jump off the dock. My one attempt at water skiing, and the pontoon rides. Your giant foam cowboy hat. Your guitar. Your polka stick. Thank you for all the wonderful memories grandpa!"
"Dear Dorothy & family What a loss. Arleigh & I always enjoyed seeing you two at the lake. Larry was a very loving giant of a man. I hope Larry is with my Arleigh having a good time. I am sorry I can't be with you on the 15th, but you know my thoughts are with you Love Mike Benike Lake Zumbro friends"
"Sorry for your loss. Larry was a neat man. I can only hope he is playing his crazy instrument with grandpa Bob. The Cordie family will continue to drive Larry's pontoon around Lake Zumbro with pride."
"TRADITIONAL FUNERAL BASKET was sent by Robert and Lois Rud and family.Thank you Larry for so many great memories. Our love and prayers will follow you and your family forever. Love, Robert & Lois Rud Bob Jr., Ron, Rick, Becky, Gina"