"My condolences to Larry's entire family - we had the absolute privilege of living across the street from Larry and Alice for about a year before they moved to Ames. Such a kind and caring person, and he made us feel right at home in the neighborhood. He will be missed. "
In loving memory of
Larry Dawaine Harter
March 3, 1939 - August 24, 2024
Larry Dawaine Harter (age 85) of Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on August 24, 2024. Larry was born to Dale and Velma Harter in Oakfield, Iowa on March 3, 1939. He lived his entire life in Iowa. He moved to Des Moines in the 1960's and lived there until the last two years at Northridge Village in Ames.
Larry's 54 year career was as an orthodontic lab technician for Doctors Robert Young and John DeGooyer; later for Doctors Charles Collins and Michael Hipp.
Larry is survived by his wife of 60 years, Alice (Hyde) Harter. They have three children: Shelley (Kevin) Stow of Ames; Steven of West Des Moines; and Scott (Wanda) of Waukee, and six grandchildren: Kris Stow (Taylor Stoeckler) of Ankeny, Betsy (Albert) Contreras of Ames, Kendall Stow of Minneapolis, Steele (Bridget) Harter of Des Moines, Safire Harter and Stryker Harter of Waukee. They also have four great-grandchildren: Robert and James Contreras and Ezra and Bryanna Harter.
Larry was the oldest of 6 siblings: Carolyn Landon, Joanne Hulsebus, Phyllis Jensen, Rick Harter and Jerry Harter. He was very close to all of his family, including brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces, his cousins and many extended relations.
Larry loved hunting and fishing. He made many fishing trips to Iowa lakes and ponds and up to Minnesota and Canada in his beloved boats. He spent every hunting season in the fields and woods near his hometowns of Brayton and Exira driving his well know pickup trucks with the license plates of HARTER and going by his famous CB handle of Wirebender. When he could no longer go hunting he trapped chipmunks by the hundreds around his garage and home at 1414-57th Street. In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be made to Izaac Walton League of America, 434 George Flagg Parkway, Des Moines, IA 50321, https://desmoines-ikes.com/ , to benefit state conservation programs.
Services will be held at Brayton Luthern Church, 310 Broadway St. Brayton, IA 50042 on Saturday, August 31st. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00- 11:00 AM with the funeral service beginning at 11:00. There will be a lunch reception following from noon to 1:30 PM. Internment will be held at a later date in the Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell, IA.
Online condolence may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcreamtioncare.com
Tributes
"Larry was an amazing neighbor on 57th St in Des Moines. We always enjoyed visiting with him and seeing his beautiful smile. He was always a ray of sunshine, friendly and very helpful to his neighbors. The neighborhood greatly missed him and his wife when they moved to Ames two years ago. Larry will be in our hearts forever! Such a great person! Our condolences to his family. Brad, Nancy & Daria Knutson. James & Rylee Hansen "
"Larry was a wonderful neighbor to my family for many years! "
"Larry was an incredible person, a kind, caring, sincere person who made everyone feel included and valued. He welcomed me into the family back in 1988 when I started dating his nephew, Darreld. Darreld and I would join Larry and Alice every Thursday for his famous homemade chicken and noodles. Soon after we were married, Darreld started working in Cedar Rapids during the week. Thursday rolled around and I felt unsure if I should go over or not and decided against it. Soon my phone rang, it was Larry telling me my food was getting cold! I knew I was definitely part of the family and not just an in-law! He and I always enjoyed catching each other up on our Exira news. We so loved getting the birthday calls from him. He had a gift of always making people feel special. Larry was loved and he will be missed by so many people. The world was a brighter place with Larry in it. Much love, Barbie & Darreld"