Larry Skank

Larry LaVern Skank, one of three children of Vera Isabelle (Fritcher) and Alma Claude Skank, was born on his parent's farm on the county line south of Macedonia, Iowa on January 19, 1939. Larry's family moved 18 times during his childhood. He lived in Missouri, Oregon, and the Southwestern Iowa communities of Macedonia, Silver City, Wales, and Henderson where he graduated from high school in 1956. Following high school, Larry attended the U.S. Trade School in Kansas City, MO, where he studied auto mechanics. He then joined the Iowa National Guard and served six months active duty at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri and Fort Ord, California. Larry served the following six years with the Army Reserves.

On November 28, 1958, Larry and Lora Irene Cole of Henderson were united in marriage. They made their first home in Council Bluffs, Iowa and Larry worked as a mechanic in Omaha, Nebraska at Westroads Volkswagen. In 1961, they moved to Carson, Iowa and Larry continued to work in Omaha specializing in Volkswagens. In 1972, Larry traveled to St. Louis, Missouri where he was honored as the Top Volkswagen Mechanic in the United States. In 1975, Larry began his own mechanic shop in Carson, Skank's Repair. Over the course of his life he specialized in Volkswagens for 44 years and was a two-year guildsman. He could fix anything, sometimes using homemade parts. Larry enjoyed working on cars and was especially proud of his Model T, of which he purchased in pieces and rebuilt without any instruction.

Larry was a past member of the Carson Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Community of Christ Church in Carson. During their 45 years of marriage, Larry and Irene were blessed with six children; Joe, Sid, Lynn, Lisa, Leslie, and Karl. Larry died suddenly at the Jennie Edmundson Memorial Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA, on August 2, 2004 at the age of 65 years, 6 months, and 14 days. He was preceded in death by his father Alma Skank and son-in-law James Weifenbach.

Larry is survived by his wife Irene Skank and mother Vera Skank of Carson; sons Joe Skank of Omaha, NE, Sid Skank and wife Tami of Oakland, IA, and Karl Skank and wife Lisa of Carson; daughters Lynn Donahue and friend John Shull of Carson, Lisa Fulton and husband Devon of Plattsmouth, NE, and Leslie Frazier and husband Todd of Bonnie Lake, WA; brother Harold Skank and his wife Frances of Ames, IA; sister Jacquelyn Allensworth and her husband John of Marion, IL; mother-in-law Argie Cole of Henderson, IA; 19 grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends