Larry Beisker

LARRY BEISKER Cedar Rapids The end of an era happened July 22, 2016, with the death of Larry Gene Beisker. He now joins his beloved family: mother, Alice Alzina (Ewing) Beisker; father, George William Karl Beisker Sr.; nine siblings, Georgia Ream, Virginia Kellison, George Jr., John (Jack), Amanda Kelbl, Dean, Marvin, Roger and David; and infant daughter, Carry Lynn. He passed away while working in his cherished garden at the age of 73 of an apparent heart attack. Those closest to his heart left to grieve his passing are his wife, Ruth Ellen Peake-Beisker; his three children, Jeffrey Lane Beisker (Karen), Craig Alan Beisker (Michelle) and Wendelyn Jo Friehl-Taylor (Shane); seven grandchildren, Bryce Allen Beisker, Taylor Paige Friehl, Alyssa Rae Beisker, Makenna Carry Friehl, Bryan Jeffrey Beisker, Erik Jacob Beisker and Macy Raine Taylor; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Larry was born the 10th child of George and Alice Beisker in Waukon, Iowa, on Oct. 21, 1942. As his brothers served in World War II, he made himself an expert of that era and loved reading and talking about those years and what it meant to all Americans. Larry worked on the family farm growing up, which is where he formed a love for Minneapolis-Moline tractors. As a true farmer, Larry could tinker, design and build anything. Following life on the farm, Larry was hired at Postville (Iowa) Rural Electric and then moved to Iowa Electric, now Alliant Energy, in Cedar Rapids as an electric serviceman. He labored for 33 years and spent many days and nights in inclement weather to ensure the power came back on. Larry had been retired for several years and took great pride in his property located in Cedar Rapids. The white barn with the blue steel roof was his office and workshop and in the afternoons was where he found rest from a hard day's work which quite often included splitting a pile of wood to be shared with many. Larry loved his flower and vegetable gardens and enjoyed a green thumb. Most afternoons during retirement, you could find him "taking a break" at the local tap talking about his family and life's adventures with his sky-blue eyes twinkling. He never met a stranger and was never at a loss for words. In December 1961, Larry married his first wife, Gloria Jean Halverson, and together they had four children, then later divorced. He later married Ruth Ellen Peake-Beisker on May 19, 1984, and enjoyed a well-suited life together which included many trips to Las Vegas and Aruba. Larry loved his family most of all and was proud of their many accomplishments, including three entrepreneurial children, and wasn't shy to brag about them. This loving husband, Dad and Poppa will be greatly missed. There will be a celebration of life at the Legacy Center at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home (520 Wilson Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids) on Friday, July 29, from 4 to 8 p.m. for visitation. The family invites friends and family to the Timeout Lounge (3230 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids) on Saturday, July 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. to "take a break" for a toast to Larry. Please feel free to wear denim as that is how we all remember him. Please share a memory of Larry at

www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.