Larry Wilson, age 79, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Decorah Lutheran Church, 309 Winnebago St, Decorah, IA 52101, with Pastor Peter Kowitz presiding. Burial with full military honors will follow at Phelps Cemetery.

Service will be livestreamed: rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2

Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service at the church on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

He was born on April 23, 1947, in National City, CA. Larry grew up in Waterloo, Iowa, and attended East High School. Larry was active in Scouts and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

He was a veteran in the US Army from 1967-1969 and served in the Vietnam War. Larry was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Vietnam Service Medal, and several other honors.

Larry married Jeri Martin in Elgin, IA, on June 27, 1970. They, along with their two sons, Ted and Tim, moved to Decorah in 1977 and have been members of Decorah Lutheran Church.

For 33 years, he served as a lineman for Interstate Power and, later, Alliant Energy. In retirement, he rewired several houses for his kids. He enjoyed fishing, boating, carpentry, and photography. He likely has photos of every athlete and musician who attended Decorah High School between 1987 to 1992.

In his later years, he enjoyed chatting with people while frequenting restaurants and coffee shops around town, feeding the birds and squirrels from his downstairs patio. Grandpa Larry also loved attending everything grandchildren did. For years, he had a $20 in his pocket for each of them at every event. He was unfailingly generous and always ready to take the family out for dinner or ice cream.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jeri Wilson; his children, Ted (Jill) Wilson and Tim (Andrea) Wilson; and grandchildren Sam Wilson, Peter Wilson, Riley Wilson, Max Wilson, and Renae Wilson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Eunice Wilson, and brother, Dean Wilson.