Lawrence "Larry" Geraets

Lawrence L. Geraets CHESAPEAKE - Lawrence "Larry" Geraets was born in Dell Rapids, S.D., Jan. 28, 1952, the son of Lawrence and Beverly (Cobb) Geraets. Larry was a 1970 graduate of O'Gorman High School, Sioux Falls, S.D. He then entered the Navy graduated from the Navy Nuclear Power Training Center and served as a nuclear machinist mate. In 1981, he graduated from South Dakota State University with a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard as a nuclear engineer first in the office of Radiological Control from 1983 to 2000 and later for the Nuclear Engineering Planning Department, Nuclear Support Facilities Yard Division until his retirement in July of 2007. Larry passed away unexpectedly Jan. 17, 2009, at his home of natural causes. He was 56 and preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Anita James. He is survived by his sisters, Ruth Crosby of Madison, S.D., and Joan Meyer of Brandon, S.D.; his brothers, Sam Geraets of Carter Lake, Iowa, and Glenn Geraets of Mitchell, S.D. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Twiford's Funeral Home, Chesapeake.