Larry Dale Theerman, age 74, of Macon, MO, passed away Friday, July 1, 2022, at the Samaritan Memorial Hospital in Macon.
Larry was born February 23, 1948, in Washington, MO, son of Raymond and Ruth (Koehler) Theerman. He was united in marriage to Arlene Fay Kraettli on June 7, 1978, in Warren County. Larry grew up on a farm in rural Warren County, where he helped with daily farm chores and explored the outdoors, usually when hunting and fishing.
Larry graduated from Warren Co. R1 High School in 1966 and then attended Northeast Missouri State with a degree in agriculture. While attending college, he worked at various agricultural jobs, such as shearing sheep and fieldwork to help pay for college. After graduating from Northeast in 1970, he continued to work on the family farm while also working full-time in a factory. Larry always said, “I learned more about the real world in that factory than four years at Northeast.” Larry returned back to college and attended the University of Missouri and enrolled in classes to be certified to teach agriculture, and eventually earned a Master’s Degree in Education.
From 1977 to 2003, Larry spent his career in education in the Macon R1 school district and served as a staunch supporter of vocational education. He first started teaching Vocational Agriculture and served as the FFA sponsor at the Macon area Vo-Tech School. In 1985, he was then assigned as the director of MAVTS, up until his retirement. Larry also served as an interim superintendent for Macon and coached Macon Tiger baseball for several years.
Larry was an avid gardener and was always willing to share produce with his friends. He enjoyed reading Western books, hunting, fishing, and making fishing lures. Most of all, he treasured his time spent with his family, especially his grandsons. In addition, he appreciated all the support from friends, including everyone he met at the Wellness Center at Samaritan Memorial Hospital.
Larry will always be remembered as a devoted family man and trusted friend. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Arlene; two children, Kenny Theerman and wife Lauren of Tomball, TX, and Kathryn Whisenand and husband Charlie of Macon, MO; four grandsons, Kolt, Kase, Eli, and Karter; one sister, Mary Ann Hollenbeck of Wright City; one sister-in-law, Linda Thomas and husband Galen of Springfield, MO; one niece and many nephews; and his special family friends, especially Rich and Mashell McGowan of Macon, MO.
He is preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Lesley and Viola Kraettli; one brother, Arnold Theerman; and one brother-in-law, Eddie Hollenbeck.
Memorial services were held at noon on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, at the Hutton & McElwain Funeral Home in Macon with Bro. Jim Bolin officiating. A visitation preceded the service at 10 am. Memorials may be made to the Randy Johnson Memorial Fund.
