McCabe, Lawrence Edward

Lawrence Edward McCabe, 81, longtime Coralville resident, died at home Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, surrounded by his family. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, with the Rev. Edmond Dunn and the Rev. Thomas Doyle officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph's Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday after 9 a.m. at the church.

In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to the Lawrence McCabe Memorial Fund or to St. Thomas More Church.

Larry was born June 23, 1931, in Cosgrove, Iowa, the son of Edward F. and Mary E. Murphy McCabe. He attended school in Cosgrove and in 1946, the family moved to Coralville. Larry was a 1949 graduate of Iowa City High School. He married the love of his life, Janet Webster, on June 30, 1952, in Oxford.

Larry was a mechanic and then became service manager at Burkett-Rhinehart Motors. In 1967, he purchased the John Deere dealership, McCabe Equipment Inc., which he owned and operated for 34 years.

Following his retirement in 2001, Larry drove school bus for First Student in Iowa City and Regina schools and was a driver and greeter at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service.

Larry was a Coralville volunteer fireman for many years and was a member of the Iowa City Rotary and Knights of Columbus. He served on the Coralville Recreation Commission and had been on the board of directors at Uni Bank & Trust.

His greatest joy in life were his children and grandchildren. He was a tremendous husband, father, and grandfather. He loved summer vacations boating with them all at Lake of the Ozarks and winters snow skiing in Colorado.

Special thanks to Iowa City Hospice, especially Angelika for her tender care and support.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Janet; their two daughters, Cheri (Kim) Hochstetler of Tiffin and Julie McCabe of Coralville; seven grandchildren, Abby, Ashton, and Cameron Kacena, Rachel (Jesse) Rohret, Damon (Gina) Knowling, Shelly (Tyler) Kopriva and Steve Hochstetler; two great-granddaughters, Elsa and Lena Kopriva; his sister, Betty Donohue; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family; and Angel (nicknamed Rooster), his beloved Maltese who never left his side.

He was preceded in death by five brothers, Clem, Joe, Frank, Bill, and Bob; and four sisters, Connie Leeney, Marie and Regina McCabe and Eleanor Donohue.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.

Published Jan. 10, 2013 in The Gazette