Lawrence Calkins

LAWRENCE CALKINS

Iowa City

Lawrence A. (Larry) Calkins, 92, died peacefully at Windmill Manor in Coralville on Saturday, March 7, 2015. A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 13, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at the funeral home.

A memorial fund for the family's use has been established.

Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web at www.gayandciha.com.

Lawrence Allen Calkins was born Jan. 12, 1923, in Iowa City, the son of Seth A. and Dorothy C. (Bittner) Calkins. He graduated from Iowa City High School in 1942. After serving three years in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II (1943-1946), he returned home to Iowa City and was united in marriage to Lucille Mae Hamer on April 26, 1947.

He worked for Goodfellow Sign and Neon Co. as a sign painter and neon serviceman, later at University of Iowa graphic arts department in East Hall and after that he was a sign painter at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

He loved being around his children and grand-children. He had lots of hobbies which included hunting, fishing, mushroom hunting, wood carving, pin striping cars, letter painting, metal detecting for coins, building model aircraft and looking for Native American artifacts.

He is survived by his son, Craig (Laurie); grandchildren, Tricia Kiser, Pamela Kiser-Burch, Amanda (Justin) Bender, Chris (Melissa) McClure and Alex (Sandra) Brown; seven great-grandchildren; and one brother, Donald Calkins.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille; daughter, Gail Kiser; brothers, Willis and Terry Calkins; and sisters, Doris Moeller and Delores Neider.