Obituary of C.H. "Larry" Parsons

C. H. “Larry” Parsons, 93, passed away peacefully at his Iowa City home on Friday, November 10, 2017.

He was born February 8, 1924 in Spirit Lake, Iowa to Carl and Adelia Hartman Parsons.  The youngest of five children, Larry played center on the first Spirit Lake High School basketball team ever to compete in the state basketball tournament.

He attended both Sioux Falls College and Iowa State College on basketball scholarships, also lettering in track and football.  He joined the U.S. Army in 1943, serving all over western Europe, Japan and the Philippines. Upon his discharge in 1946 he attended the University of Iowa on the G.I. Bill, graduating with a degree in Psychology.

In 1949 he became employed at Frohwein Supply Company (renamed Tallgrass Business Resources in 2011), and the following year he married, Joan Frohwein.  He served as president of Frohwein’s until his retirement in 1990 when he passed the business to his sons, and now a grandson represents the 4th generation in the family business.

Larry was a member of numerous service and charitable organizations including Noon Rotary, Toastmasters, Elks, Chamber of Commerce, Optimists and the American Cancer Society.  In his later years, he enjoyed volunteering at the Iowa City Veterans Hospital.  He was an avid golfer, bowler, fisherman and boater, and enjoyed spending time at his home on the Coralville Reservoir and his winter home in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Larry is survived by Joan, his wife of 67 years, brother, Rodney (Marilyn); children, Cindy (Gary Klinefelter), Dave (LuAnn Reynolds) and Doug (Connie); four grandchildren, Emily Klinefelter (Clif Johnson), Katy Klinefelter (Steve Smith), Max Parsons and Kelli Parsons;  and two great-grandchildren, Ivan and Thanos Johnson.

Memorial Services will be held at 4 p.m. on Thursday, November 16 at the Congregational United Church of Christ, followed by a reception to celebrate a life well lived.  Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Iowa City VA Health Care System Voluntary Services.  Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.gayandciha.com.