Larry Beik, 81, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 17, in West Branch.
Larry was born July 17, 1941, in Muscatine, Iowa the son of George and Bernice (McLaughlin) Beik. He was a graduate of Hallsville, Missouri High School.
Larry was united in marriage to Jo Ann Coats 1962 - 1979.
In 1981 he was married to Carol Gundrum and later married Carolyn Freyermuth on July 10, 1987 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. She passed away in 2003.
Following graduation he moved to Iowa from Missouri. He spent his life farming in the Nichols area until his illness forced his retirement in 2013.
One of Larry’s highlights was traveling and exploring Germany and visiting the family hometown there.
He enjoyed fishing and taking guy trips to various water holes. He restored Oliver tractors having completed 12 and working on the 13th when illness would not allow him to do the work any longer.
Larry loved his family history and trudged through many cemeteries gathering information, correcting some too, he also spent many hours reading, especially westerns. He enjoyed his family and was proud of his grandson Chuck for serving nearly 20 years in the military.
He is survived by three children: Patricia Stransky, of Nichols; Barbara Trafton of Cedar Rapids, and a son; grandchildren Chuck (Angie) Yedlik, Abigail Stransky, Troy (Alisha) Trafton, Stephen (Caprice) Trafton and one Great grandson, Garrett Yedlik.
He is also survived by one brother, Steve Beik of Nichols. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Georgeann and his wife Carolyn.
A celebration of life was held. Saturday, Jan. 21, at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty with visitation held beforehand.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Nichols Fire Department and First Responders.
Private family interment will be held in the Grandview Iowa Cemetery.