Larry L. Spurgeon's Obituary
Larry L. Spurgeon, 74, of Centerville, Iowa, died peacefully in his home on Saturday, August 22, 2009, surrounded by family and friends. Larry's passing comes after a valiant struggle against complications following a tragic fall in his home on July 27th, 2008, that left him a complete quadriplegic, ventilator-dependent. He was born to Muriel E. (Arbuckle) and LeRoy Spurgeon on June 4, 1935, at home in Udell, Iowa. As a child, he was adored in his small community for having varied interests and hobbies, some of which were: starting a weekly newspaper, his paper route, raising and selling popcorn, making friends with railroad executives, riding his bicycle for miles to work for farmers, etc. He was educated and graduated from Udell Consolidated Schools in 1953 while excelling in and enjoying shop, basketball and baseball.He spent several years with out-of-state employment prior to his 41-year career at Iowa Southern Utilities/Alliant Energy. Larry was widely known and respected throughout the Midwest for his exceptional talent, knowledge and understanding of protective relaying in the electrical industry. He served as a Control Systems Specialist with the company and participated in many schools and seminars teaching and instructing in the industry. He retired from Alliant Energy on January 31st, 1997, after which he started his own business on February 1, 1997, continuing his passion for learning and mentoring in this highly specialized field. He could 'fix' nearly anything and never refused anyone who asked for his assistance. He carried his abilities to his church where he maintained many property issues there, then also assisted in running the sound system during worship and special events. He also helped establish an electrical power system to food vendors in the Food Courts during Pancake Day.He loved his family, and his grandchildren were the 'light of his life'! He loved to play Cribbage, ride his Harley(s), coach Little League and girls' softball, keep his lawn impeccable, 'collect' black vehicles, hunt and eat morel mushrooms, indulge in the season of sweet corn, cucumbers and tomatoes. Many will remember him for all the good times and places in the 'yellow van', church canoe trips to Ely, MN, and down the Chariton River where you could almost count on being overturned! This was fitting style for his Colorado River rafting adventure. He loved to help his young sons in pedal and lawn tractor competition. Larry also was noted for his handsome beard thus winning State Fair and Pancake Day recognition. He also enjoyed tail-gating at Hawkeye football games. While in ICU and the rehabilitation hospital, he was admired for his relentless determination to overcome any obstacles associated with quadriplegia. It was also in these unfamiliar places that his nurses discovered his uncanny resemblance to Ernest Hemingway and Sean Connery! He made friends wherever he went. Even his most recent local cache of nurses and doctors saw a tremendously compromised, complicated, courageous man who never complained and was grateful for their assistance in extending his life. Larry was a great listener knowing that this quality expounded the greatest sort of wisdom. He invested time and effort to understand before he spoke thus embracing others who offered many different perspectives as well.He was preceded in death by: his parents.Larry is survived by and will be sorely missed by: his devoted wife Jan Spurgeon of Centerville, Iowa; sons, Stephen Spurgeon of Boulder, Colorado, Gregory and his wife, Loretta Spurgeon of Firestone, Colorado, Corey and his wife, Stephenie Jeffus of LaVista, Nebraska, and Nathaniel and his wife, Chrissy Spurgeon of Pella, Iowa; grandchildren Stephanie, Stephen, Michael, Zechariah, Delaney, Logan, Tyler, Emmy and Izzy; his sister, Barbara and her husband Charles Bare of Des Moines, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends.A Celebration of Larry's life will be held at 11 AM, Tuesday, August 25, 2009 at the Drake Avenue Christian Church in Centerville, Iowa with Revs. Nancy Prall and Kenneth Mehrhoff officiating. Burial will follow at the Mt. Ararat Cemetery east of Centerville. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 24, 2009 from 2 pm till 8 pm at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, Iowa with the family present from 6 pm till 8 pm at the funeral home.Memorials can be graciously made to either, the Drake Avenue Christian Church or Pancake Day at the Chamber of Commerce and can be mailed to or left at the funeral home. The To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Larry L. Spurgeon please visit our Sympathy Store.
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