- Born on: June 6, 1945
- Departed on: October 6, 2026
- Resided in: Cedar Falls, IA
Larry Tonn
Larry Dean Tonn, 81, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, passed away due to a sudden illness on October 6, 2026, in Waterloo, Iowa.
Larry was born June 6, 1945, in Readlyn, Iowa, the son of Walter and Gladys Tonn. He was raised in Sumner, Iowa, as the second youngest of seven children and graduated from Sumner High School in 1963.
Larry met Lorraine Lupkes on a blind date arranged by mutual friends. They were married on August 21, 1965, in Grundy Center, Iowa, and made their home in Cedar Falls, where they raised their two children, Dana and Corey. Larry and Lorraine celebrated 61 wonderful years of marriage together.
Their family grew to include six grandchildren, Tayler, Derek, Brandon, Katlyn, Haley, and Morgan; and one great-granddaughter, Zuri.
Larry worked for John Deere in gear standards for the majority of his career. Following his retirement in 1999, his knowledge and experience led to an exciting opportunity to continue working with John Deere as a consultant. Larry then traveled to China, where he worked with gear production companies and shared the expertise he had developed throughout his career.
Larry was a hardworking and determined man who rarely sat still. He enjoyed woodworking, golfing, playing cards, and keeping a pristine yard. He was an avid UNI Panthers fan and enjoyed watching college football, classic Western films, listening to Shania Twain and enjoyed his weekly breakfasts with the guys. Larry and Lorraine spent many winters at Paradise Resort Estates in Pharr, Texas, where they developed a wonderful community of friends. Whether in Iowa or Texas, Larry enjoyed being around people, volunteering in his community, being involved in church activities and lending a hand whenever one was needed.
Above all, Larry was devoted to his family. He was an involved father and grandfather who could regularly be found in the stands or audience at school activities, sporting events, and other important occasions. He valued honesty, family, and hard work and taught his family by example that hard work always pays off. A social man with a good sense of humor, Larry loved to talk, joke, and visit with anyone around him. He was a natural problem-solver who rarely accepted that a task couldn't be figured out.
Larry also appreciated life's simple pleasures, whether chopping vegetables in the kitchen, taking a well-earned nap, or going for a golf cart ride with his granddog, Jersey.
Larry is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lorraine; his children, Dana (Scott) Dinderman and Corey (Michelle) Tonn; his six grandchildren, Tayler (Kayla) Dinderman, Derek (Kylie) Dinderman, Haley Dinderman, Brandon Tonn, Katlyn Tonn (Ryan), and Morgan (Zach) Beck; his great-granddaughter, Zuri Beck; and his sisters, Marilyn (Don) Anderson, Ruby Johnson, and Shirley (Bob) Bany.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Gladys Tonn; and his siblings, Virginia (Lorenz) Schellhorn, Bob (Lorraine) Tonn, and Marg (Leo) Scharnhorst; and his brother-in-law, Dick Johnson.
A private service will be held for Larry’s immediate family. His remains will be interred at Garden of Memories-Garden of Serenity as part of a memorial bench in Waterloo, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Western Home Foundation in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Larry was born June 6, 1945, in Readlyn, Iowa, the son of Walter and Gladys Tonn. He was raised in Sumner, Iowa, as the second youngest of seven children and graduated from Sumner High School in 1963.
Larry met Lorraine Lupkes on a blind date arranged by mutual friends. They were married on August 21, 1965, in Grundy Center, Iowa, and made their home in Cedar Falls, where they raised their two children, Dana and Corey. Larry and Lorraine celebrated 61 wonderful years of marriage together.
Their family grew to include six grandchildren, Tayler, Derek, Brandon, Katlyn, Haley, and Morgan; and one great-granddaughter, Zuri.
Larry worked for John Deere in gear standards for the majority of his career. Following his retirement in 1999, his knowledge and experience led to an exciting opportunity to continue working with John Deere as a consultant. Larry then traveled to China, where he worked with gear production companies and shared the expertise he had developed throughout his career.
Larry was a hardworking and determined man who rarely sat still. He enjoyed woodworking, golfing, playing cards, and keeping a pristine yard. He was an avid UNI Panthers fan and enjoyed watching college football, classic Western films, listening to Shania Twain and enjoyed his weekly breakfasts with the guys. Larry and Lorraine spent many winters at Paradise Resort Estates in Pharr, Texas, where they developed a wonderful community of friends. Whether in Iowa or Texas, Larry enjoyed being around people, volunteering in his community, being involved in church activities and lending a hand whenever one was needed.
Above all, Larry was devoted to his family. He was an involved father and grandfather who could regularly be found in the stands or audience at school activities, sporting events, and other important occasions. He valued honesty, family, and hard work and taught his family by example that hard work always pays off. A social man with a good sense of humor, Larry loved to talk, joke, and visit with anyone around him. He was a natural problem-solver who rarely accepted that a task couldn't be figured out.
Larry also appreciated life's simple pleasures, whether chopping vegetables in the kitchen, taking a well-earned nap, or going for a golf cart ride with his granddog, Jersey.
Larry is survived by his wife of 61 years, Lorraine; his children, Dana (Scott) Dinderman and Corey (Michelle) Tonn; his six grandchildren, Tayler (Kayla) Dinderman, Derek (Kylie) Dinderman, Haley Dinderman, Brandon Tonn, Katlyn Tonn (Ryan), and Morgan (Zach) Beck; his great-granddaughter, Zuri Beck; and his sisters, Marilyn (Don) Anderson, Ruby Johnson, and Shirley (Bob) Bany.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Gladys Tonn; and his siblings, Virginia (Lorenz) Schellhorn, Bob (Lorraine) Tonn, and Marg (Leo) Scharnhorst; and his brother-in-law, Dick Johnson.
A private service will be held for Larry’s immediate family. His remains will be interred at Garden of Memories-Garden of Serenity as part of a memorial bench in Waterloo, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Western Home Foundation in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
