Larry Edwin Hein

Larry Hein, age 71 of Alvord, IA died Friday, September 16th, 2011 in Amherst, OH, from a heart attack while traveling. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Friday, September 23rd at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, IA with Fr. Paul Monahan and Fr. Jeff Schleisman as concelebrants.. Burial will follow at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery in Alvord, IA. Visitation will be Thursday September 22nd from 2:00 - 8:00 PM with family present from 6:00 "8:00 at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. There will also be a Vigil service at 7:30 PM at the church on Thursday evening. Lawrence Larry Edwin Hein was born in Hull, IA on October 6, 1939 to Ed and Helen (Thielvoldt) Hein. Larry lived at several farm sites during his youth until settling on the family farm north of Alvord, IA when he was ten. Larry attended country school then high school in Alvord. He graduated from Alvord High School in 1958. He loved to relate stories about antics he and his friend Larry Schemmel got into. Larry farmed with his father Ed after high school, and continued on his own from 1970 until 2010 when he retired. Larry married Carolyn Ohlinger on June 27, 1970 at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Portsmouth, IA. Larry, who was an only child, acquired nine brothers and sisters-in-law as well as their spouses. He often said that as an only child he had to do everything while members of large families could split the tasks. Four children were born to Larry and Carolyn; Brian, Kathy, Brad and Lisa. Their father loved spending time with them. While Larry enjoyed farming, watching crops and gardens grow as well as taking care of livestock, he truly loved traveling and seeing new places. He and Carolyn made numerous trips to Austin, TX to visit their son Brad. They often went in search of the best Texas BBQ. Many times other friends and relatives came along on trips to Yellowstone National Park, San Diego, Alaska, Lake Tahoe, Corpus Christi, Branson, The Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, Boston, New York, Maine and Niagara Falls. For Larry there was always time for a road trip. In recent years those trips were usually made in Larrys traveling van . Another special activity was time spent visiting with family and friends over coffee. Hours would pass in a lively discussion whether the subject was important or trivial. Left to treasure his memory are: his wife, Carolyn; sons, Brad Hein of Austin, TX and Brian Hein of Sioux Falls, SD; daughters, Kathy Hein and Lisa Hein, all of Sioux Falls, SD; sisters-in-law, Marilyn (Robert) Zotti of Bellevue, NE, Jane (Gary) Book of Manson, IA and Emily (Bruce) Alexander of Omaha, NE; brothers-in-law, John Ohlinger of Ottumwa, IA and Rich (Mary) Ohlinger of Portsmouth, IA; sisters-in-law, Rose (Tom) Bruck of Avoca, IA and Alice (Lonny) Janecek of LaVista, NE; brother-in-law, Dave (Bev) Ohlinger of Portsmouth, IA; aunt, Elsie Thielvoldt of Alvord, IA; and many other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, John and Rita Ohlinger; brother-in-law, Steve Ohlinger; and several other extended family members. Blessed be his memory.