Cheri McCabe Hochstetler’s father passed away on the 8th of January, and Cheri gave us permission to post her father’s obituary as a tribute to his life.
Lawrence Edward McCabe, 81, longtime Coralville resident died at home Tuesday, January 8th surrounded by his family. Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10:30am, Friday, January 11th at St. Thomas More Catholic Church with Reverend Edmond Dunn and Reverend Thomas Doyle officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends may contribute to the Lawrence McCabe Memorial Fund or to St. Thomas More Church.
Larry was born June 23, 1931, in Cosgrove, Iowa, the son of Edward F. and Mary E. Murphy McCabe. He attended school in Cosgrove and in 1946 the family moved to Coralville. Larry was a 1949 graduate of Iowa City High School. He married the love of his life, Janet Webster on June 30, 1952 in Oxford.
Larry was a mechanic and then became the service manager at Burkett-Rhinehart Motors. In 1967 he purchased the John Deere dealership, McCabe Equipment Inc, which he owned and operated for 34 years.
Following his retirement in 2001 Larry drove a school bus for First Student in Iowa City and Regina schools and was a driver and greeter at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service.
Larry was a Coralville volunteer fireman for many years and was a member of Iowa City Rotary and Knights of Columbus. He served on the Coralville Recreation Commission and had been on the board of directors at Uni-Bank & Trust.
His greatest joy in life was his children and grandchildren. He was a tremendous husband, father, and grandfather. He loved summer vacations boating with them all at the Lake of the Ozarks and winters snow skiing in Colorado.
Special thanks to Iowa City Hospice, especially Angelika for her tender care and support.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Janet, their two daughters, Cheri (Kim) Hochstetler of Tiffin and Julie McCabe of Coralville, seven grandchildren: Abby, Ashton, & Cameron Kacena, Rachel (Jesse) Rohret, Damon (Gina) Knowling, Shelly (Tyler) Kopriva, Steve Hochstetler, and 2 great granddaughters Elsa and Lena Kopriva; his sister Betty Donohue; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family; and Angel (nicknamed Rooster), his beloved maltese who never left his side.
He was preceded in death by 5 brothers, Clem, Joe, Frank, Bill, & Bob; four sisters, Connie Leeney, Marie and Regina McCabe, & Eleanor Donohue.