Larry Rilinger 1941-2024
Laurence “Larry” William Rilinger was born Aug. 9, 1941, to William Andrew Rilinger and Rose Catherine Schmidt Rilinger. He was the second of five children including Nadine (George) Mergenmeier, Peggy (Verness) Heinen, Kathleen (Neal) Douglas and Tom (Diane) Rilinger.
Growing up on the family farm west of Goff, Larry learned many skills that served him well all his life. However, his sisters liked to tease that Larry would purposely work late in the fields to avoid helping with the milking chores. Larry’s work ethic was evident early when as a teenager, he would ride his bike several miles to work in the Corning Grocery Store.
Larry graduated from Corning High School and then took work with a traveling crew who assembled metal buildings throughout the Midwest. Larry’s mechanical mind that easily understood how things worked and went together was first put to use fixing up old jalopy cars for racing and then again during his 1963-69 military years.
Larry was in the 137th Infantry Regiment, serving in the 69th Brigade and 5th Infantry Division. During this time, he started work as a mechanic at White Way Chevrolet in Goff. This job had great benefits as it led to meeting Nancy Elaine Fund, who would become his wife on Feb. 20, 1965, when they were married at St. Patrick’s Church in Corning.
Larry and Nancy were blessed with six daughters: Joyce (Darin) Porter of Holton, Jamie (Tom) Logan of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Jonie (Andy) James of McPherson, Judy (Jim) Cannon of Overland Park, Jenice (Brian) Williams of Great Bend and Jill (Jeremy) Vickers of Lee’s Summit, Mo. People would tease Larry about not having any sons, but Larry always replied he wouldn’t trade his girls for any boys!
Larry worked in the assembly line at General Motors in Kansas City and even commuted there when he and Nancy first established the Rilinger Dairy Farm. Between keeping dairy hours and commuting, Larry knew the value of a good cup of coffee. He worked closer to home when he changed jobs to mechanic at Henry Brothers Implement Company in Holton and later worked for himself at Larry’s Repair Shop at their dairy farm east of Goff. In his later years, Larry added relief rural mail carrier to his resume, carrying mail on routes throughout Goff and Corning.
Making a small family farm run well was hard work. Through 59 years of marriage, Larry and Nancy learned how to balance working with their spouse 24/7 while relying on each other’s strengths and abilities. While both cared for their dairy and beef herds, Nancy kept the books and Larry kept the old tractors and equipment running – and still made it to almost every sporting event or activity in which their girls were involved. Larry knew the art of catching a 15-minute nap wherever he could and would jump up ready for whatever was next. Larry also knew the best way to end the day was with a bowl of Schwan’s ice cream.
Larry and Nancy were blessed with 17 grandchildren: Dan (Alley) Porter, Katie (Mitchell) Henry, Lori James, Megan (Mike) McGrew, Kelsey (Brandon) Litch, Rachel (Erik) Vizcaino, Nathan (Josie) James, Ben (Chikayo) Logan, Kaylee (Kyler) Suhr, Olivia (Alex) Brown, Becca Cannon, Natalie Williams, Regan Cannon, Ailey Williams, Johnathan Vickers, Josiah Vickers and Juliana Vickers. This side of heaven, Larry got to enjoy his first 10 great-grandchildren: Leighton, Everly, Isla and Avery Henry, June and Fitzgerald Porter, Waylon and Kylie McGrew, Kacey Suhr and Callie Litch.
All the grandkids knew that a trip to the farm meant a buggy ride with Grandpa Larry to check the cows and if you were lucky, one of Grandma Nancy’s cinnamon rolls when you returned. Larry and Nancy made it a priority to visit their children and catch as many of the grandkids’ activities as possible. Larry’s vehicles were always well-stocked with a stash of cherry mash and peanut clusters for a last-minute trip to visit family.
Larry was a member of St. James Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion and a Harrison Township trustee. Larry lived in Crestview Nursing Home these last five years. He was a loved favorite there, despite his orneriness. Larry passed peacefully on Friday, April 26, 2024.
Larry will be remembered fondly as a steadfast provider, helpful neighbor and hard worker. He enjoyed dancing in the milk barn and bringing home a flower bouquet or two to Nancy. Larry loved to hold babies and could easily entertain them with his dancing eyebrows. Larry’s commitment to attending church and living out his beliefs in his daily life helped to plant the seeds of faith in his daughters and grandchildren. That is the best crop worth growing! Larry is a loved husband, dad and grandpa and will be greatly missed.
A rosary was held on Tuesday, April 30 at St. James Catholic Church in Wetmore. Mass of Christian burial was celebrated by Fr. Joel Haug on Wednesday, May 1 at St. James Catholic Church in Wetmore. Larry’s daughters placed the pall on his casket. The giftbearers were Mitchell and Katie Henry, along with their children, Leighton, Everly, Isla and Avery. The lector was Jamie Logan. The organist was Ellie Haverkamp and the soloists were Wayne Niehues and Shirly Hutfles.
Pallbearers were Darin Porter, Tom Logan, Andy James, Jim Cannon, Brian Williams and Jeremy Vickers. Burial was held in the Fairview Cemetery north of Goff. Military services were by Mary L. Bair Post 44 of the American Legion of Holton. The American Legion Riders Post 21 of Seneca provided the flag line.
Memorials may be left in Larry’s memory to St. James Catholic Church and/or to a Staff Support Fund at Crestview.
To express your sympathy and for more information visit www.lauerfuneralhome.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
