Larry Voves, 77

Nov. 26, 1941 —
Dec 21, 2018
 
CRESCO - Larry J. Voves, age 77, of Cresco, Iowa, died on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, at home, surrounded by his loving family.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 4, 2019 at Notre Dame Catholic Church. Burial will be at a later date. Visitation will be from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the church on Friday. Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home is assisting his family.
Larry was born on Nov. 26, 1941 in Elma, Iowa to Joe and Clara (Pechota). He joined two older brothers, Vel and Bob.
He attended school at Howard County Country School #10, Elma Immaculate Conception Grade School and Notre Dame High School in Cresco.
On June 11, 1960, Larry was united in marriage to Colleen Minnick at Assumption Church in Cresco, officiated by Father Phillip Schmitt. The couple was blessed with five daughters, Cathleen, Joe-Dene, Maureen, Mary and Carrie.
Larry’s true calling and passion was heavy construction. He operated heavy equipment for Louie Lentz of Alta Vista, Iowa and Harold Riehm Construction of New Albin, Iowa. In 1980, he went to work for Howard County as a heavy machine operator and retired from there 25 years later. He also owned and operated Voves Construction in his spare time.
Larry was proficient at working on machinery and re-doing cars and trucks. He enjoyed working with stained glass, and for many years he made a glass Christmas ornament for every family member. 
On one occasion, he designed and built a miniature replica Civil War cannon for each of his sons-in-law and all his grandchildren. He was also in the process of building a life size replica of a Civil War cannon. Larry was always busy with projects in his workshop. He also enjoyed many card games in his shop with friends.
He loved his family, especially his grandkids. He made carts, old mowers, mopeds, go-carts and golf carts — anything the grandkids could ride or drive. He gave them rides in his Cushman, Caterpillar, semi truck and flatbed, John Deere tractor and even in the bucket of the backhoe, ever so slowly around and around.
For many years Larry and Colleen traveled to their cabin in northern Minnesota, where they enjoyed friends, family, the lakes and all the delights of the great outdoors. He always wanted to see bears but never knew exactly what he would do if he ran into one.
Larry is survived by his wife, Colleen; five daughters, Cathleen (Randy) Grimm of Farmington, Minn., Joe-Dene (Jeff) Mullen of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, Maureen (Kendall) Curtis of Kendallville, Iowa, Mary (Paul) Pepera of Tamarack, Minn. and Carrie (Tony) Hovey of Dakota, Minn.; 11 grandchildren, Elysia (Jason) Grimm Maras, Nathan (Genci) Grimm, Jacob (Jessica) Grimm, Andrew Mullen, Rachel (Jarred) Curtis Templeton, Rory (KB) Curtis, Mariah (Seth) Pepera Koivisto, David Pepera, Ethan (Teresa) Pepera, Chaise Hovey and Maizie Hovey; great-grandchildren, Austyn, Cooper, Logan and Grady Maras, Gage Grimm, Logan and Mason Grimm, Bryson Koivisto, Brantley and Brayden Pepera and Isiah and Emma Pepera; two brothers, Vel (Maxine) Voves and Bob (Bernie) Voves; and sisters-in-law, Dianne (Mike) Minnick and Marty (E. Pat) Minnick.
Preceding Larry in death were his parents, Joe and Clara Voves; father-in-law, Percy Minnick; mother-in-law, Dolores Minnick; brothers-in-law, Mike, E. Patrick and Kevin Minnick; and niece, Sandra Voves Sletten.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Hospice of Howard County.

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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