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Lawrence M. "Larry" Mason

Lawrence Mason Obituary

MASON CITY - Lawrence M. "Larry" Mason, 66, of 1933 Springview Drive, died Thursday (Nov. 9, 2006) at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minnesota, of a massive heart attack.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 302 Fifth St. S.E., Mason City, with the Rev. Kenneth Gehling and the Rev. Harry Koelker officiating.

Private family inurnment services will take place at a later date.

There will be no visitation. Memorials may be given to the Larry M. Mason Memorial Fund.

Larry was born on Aug. 26, 1940, to John V. Mason and Beatrice (Conrin) Mason at Park Hospital in Mason City.

He attended schools in Rockwell and Swaledale and then graduated from St. Joseph's Catholic High School in 1958.

He went on to graduate from Waterloo Barber College in 1959. He served his apprentice barbering at Harry Tyler's Barbershop in Postville, Iowa.

Larry married Gloria Winter on Sept. 5, 1960, at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Postville. Three children were born of this union: Dianna, Lauri and Daniel.

The Masons moved in 1962 to Mason City, where Larry worked for Art Bartelt at Service Barbershop. In 1968, partnering with Nyle Rippentrop, they started Highland Barbershop. In the early 1970s, Larry purchased Service Barbershop.

In 1975, Sheriff Gerald D. Allen hired Larry to work at the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff's Office. Larry graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 1977. In his years at the sheriff's office, Larry worked in every enforcement-related department and attained the rank of chief deputy under Sheriff Robert Balek.

Larry served the county as sheriff for six years, retiring in 2000. Larry loved his law enforcement career and helping the citizens of the county. He was a true public servant.

Larry held several retirement jobs as a courier for Velocity and Priority Express. Most recently he was employed as a driver for Mason City Transit.

His retirement years were very special, as he made many new friends throughout northern Iowa.

Larry was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church and the Moose Lodge. He was a people person who truly enjoyed meeting and getting to know new people. He always had a joke to tell. He especially enjoyed all the doctors and nurses he met at Mayo Clinic during his illness. His cardiac nurse related that he was having fun teasing the staff right to the end.

Larry enjoyed watching television, especially old movies, sports and news events. He also enjoyed golfing and playing cards. However, his greatest joy was his family. No matter how sick he was, he always perked up when any of his children or grandchildren were with him. He was so very proud of them.

Larry is survived by his wife of 46 years, Gloria, of Mason City; three children, Dianna Lynn Alexander, and husband, Roy, Lauri Marie Nelson, and fiancée, Tom Wickwire, and Daniel Lawrence Mason, all of Mason City; six grandchildren, Jeremy Low and wife, Jessica, Jennifer Low, Jayme Low, and fiancée, Greg Bryant, Jordan Alexander, Taylor Nelson, and Chase Nelson, all of Mason City; one sister, Lori Poland, and husband, Greg, of Surprise, Ariz.; two nephews, Jeff and Chris McDonald of Phoenix, Ariz.; two aunts-in-law, Dorothy Conrin, of Mason City, and Lois Conrin, of Plattsmouth, Neb.; three sisters-in-law, Doris Usher, of Brighton, Colo., Ione Burnett, of St. Louis, Mo., Carol Stahr, and husband, Scott, of West Union; three brothers-in-law, Eldred Winter, and wife, Ethel, of Yuma, Ariz., Marvin Winter, and wife, Janet, of Postville, and Eugene Winter, of Cedar Rapids; many cousins, nieces and nephews-in-law; and numerous close friends, especially Jim and Marla Gaubatz and their family.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law, Alfred and Olivia Winter; sister-in-law, Eileen Smith; and all of his aunts and uncles.

Major Erickson Funeral Home, (641) 423-0924.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Globe Gazette from Nov. 10 to Nov. 13, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Lawrence Mason

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Jim Conrin

November 21, 2006

Dear Gloria and family,

I am very sorry to hear that cousin Larry passed away. May he have eternal peace and serenity, and all the good that he did helping his family and the people of North Iowa be recognized.
Much Shalom to all of you.

Dona Peck

November 16, 2006

Gloria and family,
We are very sorry to hear of your loss, and remember when Larry was barbering here in Postville at Harry Tyler's shop.
We will remember your family in our prayers.
With Sincere Sympathy
Harold and Dona Peck
Postville, Iowa

Kay & Jack Hicks

November 14, 2006

Gloria and family: We were so sorry to hear about Larry. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to all of you. May God be with during this time of sorrow.

Ken and Callie Marek

November 13, 2006

Gloria and Family: So sorry for your loss. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. Love,

Cliff & Dorothy Poland

November 13, 2006

Our sympathy to you and your family. So sorry to hear of the death of Larry. A special sympathy to Lori and Greg. We are thinking of all of you. Our prayers are with you at this time.

Lori Valasek

November 13, 2006

My thoughts and prayer are with your family at this time. I will miss Larry and his kidding!

Opal Sears

November 12, 2006

Gloria and Family, Please accept my sincere sympathy on the death of Larry. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Tom Fingalsen

November 12, 2006

Gloria,and family,
I will miss Larry as a friend and
Co-worker

Teresa Jensen

November 12, 2006

Lori, Please accept my condolences in the loss of your brother. He was a great man, one who will be truly missed by the entire community. Take care.

Coriene Tevis

November 12, 2006

Gloria, my sincerest sympathy is with you and your family. Larry was younger, but as you have know, St. Joe alumni are all close, no matter what the age. Larry will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Joan Snell

November 11, 2006

Gloria and family. I certainly do feel for you in your loss. I worked with Larry for many, many years and never heard him have an unkind word about anything. He was always one with a joke. Please accept my heartfelt condolenses for your loss.

Joe Hunt

November 11, 2006

I've had the previlidge of knowning Larry and his family on a professional and personal level for 25 years. Larry was first a co-worker, then my supervisor, then my sheriff. I learned many of lives lessons from this man. He was with me, and helped me through the toughest time in my life. His words of advise will never be forgotten. I'll remember Larry and his smile. I won't say good-bye to him. Because I know I will see him again oneday. Save a seat at the coffee table for me, Larry....God bless Gloria and the family.

Becky Pike

November 11, 2006

Gloria and family,
You have my deepest smypathy. I only met Larry once and he told me to follow my heart on my move. Gloria, I miss talking with you and please know that you are in my prayers. The road is long, but remember to take care of yourself. You have a super network of friends and family, don't hesitate to rely on them.

Thinking of you.

Ed Adams

November 11, 2006

To the Mason family: I am sorry to hear about your loss. I met Larry while I was Police Chief in Rockwell. I will always remember him as a man with many jokes and a smile on his face. He will truely be missed.

Judi and Mike Balek

November 11, 2006

Our deepest sympathy to Gloria and her family. Larry was a very special person, and he will be missed. Our prayers are with you Gloria.

Jeff and Nicki Lessor

November 10, 2006

Dan and Lauri~ We are so sorry to learn of you dad's passing. Always remember the good times are close at heart! We love you both! You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

Kurt Kuhlers

November 10, 2006

My deepest sympathy goes out to Gloria and her family. I've known Larry for many years. During my 25 year career, I've worked for many Sheriff's. Larry was the BEST. He gave me the opportunity to advance from a road deputy to a supervisor. He trusted me to do my job and was always there to answer questions or help me solve problems. I admired and respected Larry not only as my Sheriff, but as a dear friend. I will miss his smiling face, his jokes and his friendship. He will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace Buddy "Luv Ya".

Becky Mayo

November 10, 2006

My deepest sympathy to Larry's family.He was the one with the joke, the one with the smile, the one who NEVER said no when he was asked to do something to help someone.I will miss the thought of Larry and all he did for Cerro Gordo county.I'am so sorry Gloria for your loss.My prayers are with you.

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