Lawrence "Larry" Charles Wacha

Lawrence (Larry) Charles Wacha

1939-2024

Lawrence (Larry) Charles Wacha passed away at Sunny Hill Center, Tama, under the care of Iowa River Hospice, on Saturday, March 2, 2024, surrounded by his loving wife and some members of his family.

Larry was born on September 2, 1939, to Charles and Adeline (Fetter) Wacha. He grew up in the Toledo area and spent many happy days on his aunt and uncle’s Tama County farm. He went to Toledo schools and graduated from Toledo High School in 1957.

He served in the U.S. Navy from 1957-1961, stationed aboard the heavy cruisers, U.S.S. Rochester and U.S.S. Los Angeles, as well as the destroyer, U.S.S. Dennis J. Buckley.

After his service, he married Elizabeth Nickels in 1963. They were parents to four children before divorcing.

He attended Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, Colorado from 1972-1975, but returned to Iowa to work at Fisher Controls and retired from there in 1999.

He married Janet (Schulz) Goettsch at the Garwin United Methodist Church on September 23, 1989. They spent many happy years on an acreage southwest of Garwin before moving to Toledo.

Larry spent his retirement working in the yard, reading, traveling, square dancing with Janet, and enjoying his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as volunteering for Iowa River Hospice, UnityPoint Health’s Marshalltown Hospital, and the Garwin United Methodist Church. He particularly enjoyed singing in the church choir and playing guitar and singing with the Canardlies, a gospel group.

Also, an avid ham radio enthusiast throughout his life, Larry acquired his initial license when he was just 16 years old.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Janet; his children – Sharon Bovaird of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Philip (Angela) Wacha of Vinton, Michael (D’Laine) Wacha of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Duane (Jennifer) Wacha of Toyko, Japan; his step-children – Terri (Tim) Wingert of Daytona Beach, Florida, Mark (Carla) Goettsch of Gladbrook, and Angela (Kirk Paterson) Goettsch of Waterloo; his sisters – Catherine Inglove of Portland, Oregon, Judith Wacha of Iowa City and Betty Deischer of Overland Park, Kansas, as well as 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, a sister, MaryLou, and his aunt and uncle, Evelyn and Jerry Zmolek.

A service will be held Saturday, March 9 at 10:30 AM at Garwin Valley Community Church. He will be laid to rest at Maple Hill Cemetery. Friends and family are also invited to attend a visitation on Friday, March 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Mitchell Family Funeral Home. Memorials in Larry’s honor may be sent to Iowa River Hospice or the Garwin Valley Community Church. Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of Larry and his family. For questions or condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

- Lovingly written by the family