Larry Merle Gering

Larry Merle Gering was born on December 29, 1941, to Merle and Ruth (Siedelmann) Gering in Casey, Iowa.   After graduating from Des Moines Technical High School, he immediately went on to attend classes at Iowa State University, while teaching music at Professional Music Center in Des Moines.   College residence proved more party oriented than academic discipline, so he eventually earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Management at the former American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa.

Among the various careers Larry pursued, he was most fond of music, teaching accordion, drums, guitar, and keyboard.  He led a couple of bands, with perhaps the highlight as live entertainment at the rotating restaurant atop the Holiday Inn Downtown Des Moines.  He also drove trucks, both locally and over the road, dump trucks, city buses, and finally school buses in two Oklahoma school districts.   He owned ice cream and sandwich shops, used furniture stores, and managed multi- and single-family rentals.

He wed Elizabeth (Westholm) Richards on February 24, 1968, and the two went on to have Chris Gering as their only biological child.  Larry subsequently married two more times, to Nancy (Kinney) Gering and Christina (Shaw) Gering.  Larry remained divorced from 1985 to his death.

Larry lived in Iowa until 1982, when he moved to California, living in Placentia and Huntington Beach.   He moved back to Iowa from 1985-1989, and after his son’s high school graduation he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.   In 2007, he moved to Hilo, Hawaii, to be closer to Chris and his family.  Finally, in 2014 he moved for the final time to Oklahoma to be closer to Chris and family.  He volunteered at every church he attended regularly, played in the Oklahoma Accordion Club, and despite any other shortcomings, he was known as a generous person toward those in need.  He passed on a spirit of adventure and attitude of unstoppable curiosity to those whom he could influence in life.

Larry was predeceased by his parents.  He is survived by his son, Chris (wife Tina) Gering, 9 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson; his sister, Beverly (Gering) Gottlieb, and brothers, Eugene Gering and James “Buff” Gering.

Larry’s memorial service will be held April 7, 2024, 4:00 pm, at the Life Church Shawnee, 5113 N. Harrison St., Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804.  His cremated remains are to be placed at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa, on Father’s Day weekend, 2024.  We will repost the date when finalized for burial at https://www.aefuneralservices.com /obituaries.