Laurence I. “Larry” Neessen, 89, of Waterloo died at his home on Monday, December 18, 2006.

He was born July 21, 1917 in Wellsburg, Iowa, son of Heiko and Norma (Johnson) Neessen.

Larry graduated from Wellsburg High School in 1936. That was the year he was captain of the Basketball team; and the first year Wellsburg made it to the High School State Basketball Tournament. They were beat by Ames who went on to win the tournament.

Larry served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army during the tail end of WWII; although he was among the first from Waterloo to be called up for service.

Larry married Maureen Elizabeth Valentine on May 9, 1943, in Lake Worth, Florida. He was a supervisor in the canning department at Rath Packing for 25 years. He then worked in the parts department at John Deere for 17 ½ years.

He is survived by his wife Maureen of Waterloo, son Gary Neessen of Waterloo, daughter Carol Brainerd and her husband Jim of Bettendorf, daughter Vicki Tjepkes and her husband Mike of Buffalo, Minnesota, daughter Cynthia Neessen of Waterloo, daughter Debra Ammiano of Waterloo, seven grandchildren: Christine, Kelly, Amber, Kim, Ryan, Misty and Tory, and seven great-grandchildren: Wesley, Grayson, Foxx, Finn, Ella, Alexa and Nathan. Laurence is also survived by sisters: Laverne Johnson of Waterloo, Helen McCaffery and her husband Neil of Waterloo, and Merna “Joyce” Hicks of Greenville, Michigan.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Donald LeRoy Neessen, sister Carol Elaine Neessen, and a sister in infancy.