Obituary for Clarence Eugene Gram

Clarence Eugene "Larry" Gram II, 68, of Waterloo, IA passed away Tuesday March 20, 2012 at the Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, IA. A memorial service will be held on March 23, 2012 at 10AM at Queen of Peace Parish in Waterloo, IA with a luncheon celebration following the service Survivors include his wife Karon Gram of Waterloo, IA; son Clarence "Gene" Eugene Gram III(Alicia) of Des Moines, IA, daughter Shelly Smallridge(Craig) of Waterloo, IA and granddaughters Rachel, Hollie, and Ashley, brother Garry Gram and wife Mary of Waterloo, IA, sister Metta Leonard and husband Ken of Cuba, Mo. "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, IA. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1961 and served in the U.S. Army for 20 years in the Security Agency achieving the rank of Sergeant 1st Class before retiring in 1981. He also served in Vietnam for 13 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 50 years of marriage, during which time they travelled 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 3 granddaughters. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Memorials may be directed to the family.