Obituary of Laurence L. Ho

Laurence Liang Ho, 88, of Iowa City, Iowa, passed away on February 1, 2025 in Iowa City, Iowa.

Visitation will be held at Gay and Ciha Funeral Home at 2720 Muscatine Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240 on Tuesday, February 4, 2025 from 5-7pm.

Larry was born in Shanghai, China to Mon-Lai Ho and Chi-Tze Ho on June 24, 1936. To flee political persecution, he and his family moved to Taiwan when he was 10-years-old. He attended National Taiwan Normal University where he met his future wife across the Chemistry lab bench.  After graduating college, he moved halfway across the world to the US in 1965 and went on to complete his Masters and PhD degrees in Organic Chemistry at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. He worked as an Organic Chemist for Armour Pharmaceutical Company in Illinois and New York for 40 years. He convinced Laura Ho, his former lab partner, to move to the US and marry him at St. Dennis Catholic Church in Lockport, IL on September 10, 1966. Together they devoted their love and patience to raising two grateful kids.  After retirement, Larry and Laura moved to Boston, then Iowa City and New York to help to raise their much loved grandchildren. Larry cherished his family above all else and was excessively proud of their every achievement, finger-painting, race, recital and game.   

Larry was a quiet and unwaveringly positive presence in the lives of his beloved family and friends. He will be remembered as being kind, gentle, and generous. He loved drinking coffee and driving all over the country, first in station wagons, later in custom vans.

Larry Ho is survived by his wife Laura Ho of Iowa City, son Michael Ho (Bo Kwok) of Edgemont, NY and daughter Theresa Ho (Craig Ellermeier) of Iowa City; brother Paul Ho (Teresa) and sister Wiellie Hwa (Adam); grandchildren Lexi, Katiya, and Tashi Ellermeier of Iowa City, IA and Violet, Victoria, and William Ho of Edgemont, NY; brothers-in-law Alfred, Peter, David, Chi, Alex, Albert, and King Au and sister-in-law Janet Hui; 13 nephews and 7 nieces; and an ever-growing number of great nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by parents Mon-Lai Ho and Chi Tze Ho and sister Teresa Ho.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3000 12^th Ave, Coralville, IA 52241. Online condolences are greatly welcome and appreciated at www.gayandciha.com.