Lawrence Kerr

1942 - 2023

Lawrence Kerr, 80, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Larry was born on Dec. 17, 1942, in Detroit, Mich., to Lawrence B. and Florence A. Kerr. He grew up in Sioux City, Iowa, and graduated from Central High School. He went on to graduate from Iowa State University with a bachelor of science degree. He attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I. He graduated as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy and served seven years on active duty. While serving in the Navy, they lived in San Diego, Calif.; Midway Island; Bellingham, Wash.; and Guam. He then proudly served in the Naval Reserves, retiring with a combined 28 years of meritorious naval service as a commander. Larry moved to Cedar Rapids in 1977 when he was employed as an electrical engineer by Rockwell International, where he worked until he retired. He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, Collins Amateur Radio Club and the Cedar Rapids-Marion Road Hogs Bike Club. He biked eight RAGBRAIs. He was the family historian and took great pride in his genealogy work. He had a life-long passion and interest in radios and communications, including as an amateur radio operator (K0MTM). He also enjoyed a life-time hobby of stamp collecting. He was a train enthusiast and an avid reader of current events and history. He was a member of the fraternity Delta Upsilon at Iowa State. He enjoyed being a parent volunteer for Boy Scouts of America, serving as Scout Master for Troop 766. He was the proud father of two Eagle Scouts and the proud grandfather of three Eagle Scouts. He is survived by his wife, Carole; his two, sons Mark (Alison) of Tacoma, Wash., and David (Kate) of Arlington, Va.; his eight beloved grandchildren, Natasha, Jasper, Sam, Georgia, Finlay, Benjamin, Charlie and Alexander; his brother, Jim (Lola) of Sioux City, Iowa; brother-in-law, Jim (Ellie) of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; and nieces and nephews, Angie, Craig, Valerie, Katie, Elliott and McKenzie. Visitation and funeral will be held on July 15, at St. Pius X Church in Cedar Rapids. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Burlington with military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a charity of your choice. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.