Dr. Lawrence “Larry’ John Grahek

Dr. Lawrence "Larry' John Grahek

Dr. Lawrence “Larry’ John Grahek

July 21, 1930 – June 11, 2012

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Visitation: will begin at 10 a.m., Thursday morning, June 14, 2012 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will be present from 5 – 7 p.m. to greet visitors. A 4:30 p.m. Rosary Service will precede the visitation.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Friday morning, June 15, 2012 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with Reverend Fathers Jeff Belger and Thomas Spiegel officiating. Military Honors by the Oskaloosa Honor Guard will follow the service.
Interment: Private burial will be held at a later date at St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Larry passed away Monday evening at the MHP Hospice Services Serenity House in Oskaloosa at the age of 81 years, 10 months and 21 days. In lieu of flower, the family requests contributions are made to a memorial established in his name.

Larry was the youngest of six children born to Stephen and Katherine Malarich Grahek July 21, 1930 in Ely, Minnesota. Larry lived his entire youth in Ely where he was a Boy Scout, captain of the high school swim team and drama club; he was a 1948 graduate of Ely Memorial High School. Larry continued his education at Vermillion College in Ely for 2 years and then transferred to Creighton University in Omaha. He went on to attend Creighton Medical School and received his medical degree in 1956. He served a one year internship at Creighton Memorial St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha. While in medical school he was inducted into the Army Reserves. He was drafted into the U.S. Army, August 19, 1957 and served in the Army Medical Corps until Dec. 18, 1959. During that time he spent thirteen months with the 48th Mobile Hospital in Korea. Upon his return to the U.S. he was stationed at Irwin Army Hospital in Ft. Reilly, Kansas. After his release from active duty, Larry joined the Iowa National Guard; he attained the rank of Major and retired in 1969. Larry proudly served the U.S. Military for 13 years. Following his discharge from active duty, Larry served a year of surgical residency at Omaha Veterans Hospital. In August of 1960, Larry moved to Oskaloosa and joined Mercy Clinic and Hospital as a family practitioner and general surgeon. November 5, 1960, Larry married Inez A. Kudrna in Clarkson, Neb. and they made their home in Oskaloosa. Larry served as county medical examiner and Mahaska Hospital Chief of Staff for several years. He enjoyed his 32 years in medical practice, delivering countless babies, doing a wide variety of surgery and treating the ailments of area residents with compassion, caring and his own special brand of humor. He retired in 1992.

Larry was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus; an Emeritus Member of the Iowa Medical Society, he was a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, and he held a membership in Phi Rho Sigma Medical Fraternity. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #34, the V.F.W., and the Elks Club. Larry talents were not limited to medicine; he was an accomplished woodworker, crafting many treasured pieces of furniture for family and friends. His passion for history led to his love for reading and watching the History Channel, his interest in Civil War memorabilia, particularly cannons, and his collection of WWII memorabilia. He was immensely proud of this Slovenian heritage; he was a first generation US born citizen and was also very interested in the cultural heritage of all those he encountered. Larry was an avid Lionel train and railroad buff; his large collection of trains, tracks and lanterns filled much of his basement and he enjoyed sharing it with his family and his friends. He also collected coins, old tools and nautical items; and with all his collecting came lots of searching for “stuff”. Larry’s fondest collection was that of friends. Boating was a special time with family and friends and created many fond memories of annual vacations to the “North Woods”, river trips, and excursions to Lake Rathbun and the Ozarks. Elmhurst Country Club, Bridge Club and his coffee group were very important to Larry. His family and friends were the light of his life; he never knew a stranger and he will be remembered as a GREAT Grandpa.

Larry’s family includes his wife, Inez of Oskaloosa; three daughters: Laura Grahek of Phoenix, AZ; Anne (Tim) DeJong of Oskaloosa and Jane Kelderman also of Oskaloosa; two sons: Thomas (Jill) Grahek of Phoenix, AZ and John (Theresa) Grahek of Oskaloosa; twelve grandchildren: Jessica, Hannah, and Emily Grahek; Lucas, Claire and Nathan Kelderman; Katherine and Christine Grahek, Mathew (Jessica) Maylis and Patrick Maylis, and Ayla (Andy) Bixler and Timmy DeJong; and two great grandchildren: Audrey Maylis and Miah Bixler and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Larry was preceded in death by three brothers: Steve, Anthony and Bernard and two sisters: Katherine Searles and Anne Marie Grahek.