Larry Roy Grundmeier, 79, passed away on Thursday, July, 19, 2018, at the Cedars of Austin after a battle with Alzheimer’s.

Larry was born on Feb. 24, 1939, at his home in Marshall Township, Minnesota, to Roy and Lillian (Klaehn) Grundmeier. He resided in the Dexter, Minnesota, area his entire life until his move to the Cedars for his care in October of 2017. Larry graduated in 1957 from Elkton High School. While in high school, Larry was an avid baseball and basketball player and a star athlete at both.

He joined the U.S. Army in 1957 and served until 1959. One of his favorite stories (which has been told thousands of times) was that while he was in basic training in Fort Hood, Texas, he was stationed with Elvis Presley. He spoke with Elvis on many occasions there, but did not see him as often once he was transferred to Germany. You could see his face light up when he told the story, as it was his favorite to share.

Larry married Bonnie Twait in 1960 in Sargeant, Minnesota. They had their son, Todd, in 1973.  They were later divorced. When Bonnie became ill with her dementia, Larry would visit her several times per week to play music or read to her.

Larry was a lifelong member of St. John’s Church in Elkton, Minnesota, where he served in many different areas over the years, from church council to wherever he was needed. He loved living on the farm and his farming life. In his free time, he loved to go fishing up north and enjoyed being on the lake. Over the past several years after his retirement, Larry and Todd were able to go on a few trips to Orr, Minnesota. One of his greater joys the past few years was going with Todd to watch his grandson, Wyatt, play football; you could often see him standing along the sidelines of Wyatt’s games.

Larry was preceded in death by his father, Roy, in 2002; and his mother, Lillian, in 2018. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Todd and Gina Grundmeier of Dexter; his grandchildren, Wyatt, Raeann, Emma and Madison; his brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Jane Grundmeier of Hinckley, Minnesota; three nephews, Joel (Julie) Grundmeier, Eric (Rhonda Bearinger) Grundmeier and Bret (Cheryl) Grundmeier; as well as many cousins, great-nephews and nieces and other family.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 30, 2018, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Elkton. Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. prior to service.  In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to PayItForward in care of his son, Todd. Larry was quite proud of the work and mission that his son and daughter-in-law do through their non-profit and would have been honored to be memorialized in such a way.