Clarence Eugene "Larry" Gram, II, 68, of Waterloo, passed away Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at Covenant Medical Center, Waterloo. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 23, at 10 a.m., at Queen of Peace Parish, Waterloo, with a luncheon celebration following the service. Survivors include his wife, Karon Gram of Waterloo; son Clarence "Gene" Eugene Gram, III (Alicia) of Des Moines; daughter Shelly Smallridge (Craig) of Waterloo; granddaughters Rachel, Hollie, and Ashley; brother Garry Gram and wife Mary of Waterloo; sister Metta Leonard and husband Ken of Cuba, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Esther Gram. Larry was born July 6, 1943, to Clarence and Esther (Hemenway) Gram in Waterloo. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1961 and served in the US Army for twenty years in the Security Agency where he achieved the rank of Sergeant 1st Class before retiring in 1981. He also served in Viet Nam for thirteen months. After retiring from the military, he worked as a supervisor at the University of Northern Iowa until retirement. With more free time, Larry renewed his passion for the church and God and began his studies to become a Deacon, an honor he achieved in 1989. Larry loved church services and served God's children until he felt he could no longer carry out his duties due to health reasons in the fall of 2011. He married Karon Lee Randall on November 24, 1962, in Frankfurt, Germany, and celebrated nearly fifty years of marriage, during which time they traveled all over the United States and Europe while in the Army, and, after retiring, enjoying numerous family trips and cruises. He loved to read with a passion and had a dry sense of wit, and loved his family and three granddaughters. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Copyright Waterloo Courier on-line edition; downloaded March 22, 2012.