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Larry Ray Huntley, 87, went to his heavenly home Feb. 24, 2024, in Sergeant Bluff.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 10 a.m. at Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church in Sergeant Bluff. Waterbury Funeral Service in Sergeant Bluff is in charge of arrangements.
Larry was born Oct. 8, 1936, in Spencer to Owen Charles Huntley and Audrey Lucille Harriman. Larry spent most of his younger years going to Alta schools where he participated in sports, especially football. He graduated from Alta in 1955 and on the night of his graduation, he met the love of his life, Sharon Rae Dierenfield. They got married on Sept. 8, 1957, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Their marriage was blessed with two sons, David and Mark Huntley.
During his lifetime, Larry served as a police officer for Storm Lake, volunteer for the Iowa National Guard and owned a very successful restaurant, Parkway. He was active in his community receiving many awards including becoming the 1st State Snowmobile President and several governors’ awards for his service for the youth in the community. Among these amazing accomplishments, Larry had a strong passion for being outdoors; he thoroughly enjoyed hunting (both archery and shotgun) and fishing.
In 1996, he lost his vision to a rare eye disease which only strengthened his faith and motivated him. He went out to San Francisco to learn how to work alongside a seeing eye dog, Darius. Larry and Darius learned how to navigate San Francisco by trusting one another. Sharon and Larry moved to Okoboji where he spoke to many organizations about losing his eyesight and having his seeing eye dog to help him get around.
Serving and teaching others brought him great joy. He always enjoyed his family. His face would shine with pride and love listening to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren playing. LarBear will be greatly missed by his beloved family.
Larry is survived by his wife Sharon; son Mark (Karlene) Huntley and their children, Elizabeth (Ben) Borkowski and their children, Alexis (Jackson) Wohlenhaus, Allison, Aubrey, Avery; Brooke (Martin) Hoefer and their children, Owen and Keegen; Julie Huntley and her children, Amanda (Jeff) Shahan and their children, Raelene Seslar, Jaelee Seslar, Joanna Seslar, Dakotah Shahan, Hunter Shahan, Jayde (Cameron) Atwood and child Poppy; Katherine (Shawn) Warren and their children, Annabelle, Emily, Kimberly, Victoria, Cheveia; Alan (Ashlynn) and their children, Kaius, Kiana, Jace; sister Priscilla (Mel) McDonald; brother-in-law Ron (Ellen) Dierenfield; sisters-in-law, Diane Krueger and Marilyn Lindsay
He was preceded in death by his son David Huntley; father Owen Huntley; mother Audrey Hintz; stepmother Georgia June; brothers, Richard Huntley and Gary Huntley; sister-in-law Lillian Huntley; father-in-law Walt Dierenfield; mother-in-law Verne Dierenfield; brothers-in-law, Fred Krueger and Ethan Lindsay.
