Obituary for Larry Craig Gronewold
Larry Craig Gronewold, age 66, of Desoto, went to be with the Lord on Monday, August 24, 2020 at the Red Oak Health and Rehab Center. He was born on May 17, 1954 in Springfield, Illinois to Dale and Betty (Pokora) Gronewold. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois. He graduated from Springfield Southeast High School.
When Larry was young, he had a growing interest in all sorts of machines. He started mowing grass for his Grandpa Pokora, who had a big yard at his store. Larry mowed that yard, and several other lots around the neighborhood.
Larry enjoyed music. His mother convinced him to take piano lessons. When he entered 5th grade, he took music in school. His piano lessons lead him to the drums in the school band. Eventually, his mother and father bought him a drum kit. Many nights after school, he would play the kit in the basement. He made the house rock!!
In the summers, Larry's brothers Dave and Gary played baseball with neighborhood kids. Their Dad and five other dads from the neighborhood decided to organize a league. They formed the East End Dad’s Club. They raised money to sponsor baseball teams for East End kids of Springfield. Then they built ball diamonds and maintained them. Larry liked working with the dads operating tractors to drag the ball diamonds, mow the grass, pick up trash, and anything else that needed to be done.
As he grew older his interest in machines meant the machines got bigger. He drove a Class 8 truck for a while. After that, he turned his interest to a semi-truck. Eventually, he found his way to the garbage business in Springfield. He ran a business for a businessman, located in Rock Island, IL. He ran around with Alan Bachman and Wayne Books. Those times together always ended up with something mechanical, a truck usually. Larry was a remarkably successful businessman; he was an operations manager for multiple companies over his career and became partner in his last two business endeavors.
In 1983, Larry moved to Houston, Texas and met the love of his life, Pamela Ellen Toffel. They raised their family in Texas, purchasing their first home in Ft. Worth. He became very involved in the kids athletics and loved attending games while assisting in coaching. Larry befriended every neighbor within two blocks and quickly established himself as the man everyone turned to for anything. If you needed a tool, he had hit, if you needed a helping hand, he was there, if you needed an ear, he would listen. He was the ultimate guy.
He enjoyed tinkering and fixing things, just like his dad. He loved grilling, cooking, and discovering new places to eat. On weekends you would find him in front of the smoker with a beer in hand, smoking brisket, ribs, and steaks. He liked to fish, hunt, and take drives in the country. Larry loved to be outside as much as possible, on a boat, on the beach, or just relaxing in his chair.
Larry loved to listen to classic rock, blues, and country music. He loved to watch a good cooking show, but his favorite show was Emeril. Larry was laid back and always optimistic. He was a kind, loving and generous man (he would give you the shirt off his back). Always put others first, he was caring and lighthearted. He always had a story to tell, and a smile and laugh to share. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Pamela; three children, Brooke Billings of Jacksonville, IL, Leah Gronewold of Houston, TX and Barry and Leigh Linden of Brenham, TX; four grandchildren, Brinley and Braydon Linden, Landon and Laeny Billings; brother, Gary and wife Jan of Morton, IL and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Betty Gronewold; brother, David Gronewold.
Visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2020 from 3 to 5 P.M. at the Boze-Mitchell-McKibbin Chapel in Waxahachie.
Arrangements are under the direction of Boze Mitchell McKibbin Funeral Home.
When Larry was young, he had a growing interest in all sorts of machines. He started mowing grass for his Grandpa Pokora, who had a big yard at his store. Larry mowed that yard, and several other lots around the neighborhood.
Larry enjoyed music. His mother convinced him to take piano lessons. When he entered 5th grade, he took music in school. His piano lessons lead him to the drums in the school band. Eventually, his mother and father bought him a drum kit. Many nights after school, he would play the kit in the basement. He made the house rock!!
In the summers, Larry's brothers Dave and Gary played baseball with neighborhood kids. Their Dad and five other dads from the neighborhood decided to organize a league. They formed the East End Dad’s Club. They raised money to sponsor baseball teams for East End kids of Springfield. Then they built ball diamonds and maintained them. Larry liked working with the dads operating tractors to drag the ball diamonds, mow the grass, pick up trash, and anything else that needed to be done.
As he grew older his interest in machines meant the machines got bigger. He drove a Class 8 truck for a while. After that, he turned his interest to a semi-truck. Eventually, he found his way to the garbage business in Springfield. He ran a business for a businessman, located in Rock Island, IL. He ran around with Alan Bachman and Wayne Books. Those times together always ended up with something mechanical, a truck usually. Larry was a remarkably successful businessman; he was an operations manager for multiple companies over his career and became partner in his last two business endeavors.
In 1983, Larry moved to Houston, Texas and met the love of his life, Pamela Ellen Toffel. They raised their family in Texas, purchasing their first home in Ft. Worth. He became very involved in the kids athletics and loved attending games while assisting in coaching. Larry befriended every neighbor within two blocks and quickly established himself as the man everyone turned to for anything. If you needed a tool, he had hit, if you needed a helping hand, he was there, if you needed an ear, he would listen. He was the ultimate guy.
He enjoyed tinkering and fixing things, just like his dad. He loved grilling, cooking, and discovering new places to eat. On weekends you would find him in front of the smoker with a beer in hand, smoking brisket, ribs, and steaks. He liked to fish, hunt, and take drives in the country. Larry loved to be outside as much as possible, on a boat, on the beach, or just relaxing in his chair.
Larry loved to listen to classic rock, blues, and country music. He loved to watch a good cooking show, but his favorite show was Emeril. Larry was laid back and always optimistic. He was a kind, loving and generous man (he would give you the shirt off his back). Always put others first, he was caring and lighthearted. He always had a story to tell, and a smile and laugh to share. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Pamela; three children, Brooke Billings of Jacksonville, IL, Leah Gronewold of Houston, TX and Barry and Leigh Linden of Brenham, TX; four grandchildren, Brinley and Braydon Linden, Landon and Laeny Billings; brother, Gary and wife Jan of Morton, IL and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Betty Gronewold; brother, David Gronewold.
Visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2020 from 3 to 5 P.M. at the Boze-Mitchell-McKibbin Chapel in Waxahachie.
Arrangements are under the direction of Boze Mitchell McKibbin Funeral Home.