Larry Shindelar

Larry Shindelar, age 83, of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, passed away Friday, August 29, 2025, at Ossian Care Center in Ossian, Iowa, surrounded by family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 207 Church St., Spillville, Iowa, with Rev. Henry Huber presiding. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025,  at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church, 207 Church St., Spillville, Iowa. There will be no visitation the morning of the service; please come in and be seated.

Larry was born on August 1, 1942, in Decorah, Iowa, to Alois and Blanche (Rys) Shindelar. Larry attended grade school at St. Wenceslaus in Spillville, then high school at Rudolphinum in Protivin, graduating in 1960. That following January, he enlisted in the Army, serving 3 years as an E5 Mechanic in Fort Hood, Texas, then returned home to farm on the family farm.

While in the service, he met his soul mate and future wife, Kay DeMoss. They were married on September 24, 1966, in Dubuque, Iowa. They became the parents of two children, Ann and Bart.

Larry farmed all his life. He and his brother Ron farmed together raising hogs, cattle and crops on their respective properties. In their younger years, they would fish the Mississippi on Sundays and Holy days.

Larry and Kay, Toots as he called her, were soulmates and displayed a love and caring for each other to be revered. As Larry slowly eased into retirement, he and Kay would go to the Boat together for fun.

Larry was a devoted Catholic and a lifelong member of St. Wenceslaus Parish in Spillville, Iowa. He was a lector and communion distributor, a Holy Name Society member and officer, school board officer for the Catholic school, on the Church Council and a member of the Clarence Bily Legion Post 467. He loved sports, especially watching the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings. And he loved to tease people and had his witty sense of humor right up till his passing.

He was especially proud of his grandchildren and was known as Grandpa Poon, another tease line that carried over.

He will be deeply missed by all who loved him.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 58 years, Kay. Daughter Ann, Son Bart, daughter-in-law Carrie. Grandchildren Colton and Landon Goza, Addie, Tanner, and Delaney Shindelar Sisters, Sr. Miriam Shindelar, Anita (Mike) Preston, Karen (Ivan) Franzen, and Connie Samec. Brothers Ron Shindelar and Gary Shindelar. Brothers and Sisters in law Laverne DeMoss, Juanita and Fred Gansemer, Darlene and Gary Carpenter, Duane and Berta DeMoss, Deb Stevens and Wood Holt and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Alois and Blanche. His mother and father-in-law, Delbert and Frances DeMoss, sisters-in-law Shirley Bodisch, Carol DeMoss and Lynne DeMoss brothers-in-law, Kenny DeMoss, Dennis DeMoss, Howie Stevens, Gerry Bodisch and Edmund Samec.

A special thank you to WinnMed Hospice and all who helped during this difficult journey.