Larry Cerny Kaspar, 80, died Thursday, March 28, 2024, in hospice care in Lincoln.
He was born Nov. 19, 1943, to Bernard and Helen (Cerny) Kaspar. Larry grew up on their farm with his older brother. Al. and younger sister, Jane, and attended Pleasant Hill school.
Larry graduated from Dorchester High School in 1961, where he was a standout athlete, lettering in football, basketball and track. He then studied electronics at the Nebraska Vocational Technical School in Milford, graduating in 1963.
Larry enlisted in the United States Navy in 1964. He served his country on the destroyer USS Lloyd Thomas as a petty officer, third class, until 1967. Larry made the most of the experience, and would share many pictures and stories of the places he’d been after he left the service. He was proud to be a Tin Can Sailor.
Larry attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln after leaving the Navy, obtaining a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1975. He worked at Interstate Metal for some years, then took over farming the family homestead. He continued to do so until his retirement from farming full-time after 2008.
Community service was very important to Larry and he volunteered with many organizations, chief among these were the American Legion and the Saline County Historical Society. He was just as generous with his time toward his neighbors, friends and family, who always found him willing to help and offer advice when needed.
Larry had diverse interests and hobbies throughout his life, always curious and eager to expand his knowledge. Much like his father, he would take up a hobby until he’d mastered it and then move on to a new endeavor. After retiring from farming, friends and family were often recipients of gifts he’d made with use of a scroll saw. He also took an interest in model railroading, creating a detailed layout of a heartland town. Larry also liked to travel, making regular trips to Maine to visit old friends. Stories of his trips were always interesting and educational.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Helen Kaspar; his brother, Alan Kaspar; sister, Jane Swanson; and niece, Sonja Bartsch.
Survivors include his aunt, Darlene Cerny; nieces, Shari Lewis, Kim Kaspar and Penny Veprovsky and her husband Gary; nephew, Joe Kaspar and his wife Deana; brother-in-law, Dale Swanson; nephews, Eric Bartsch, Steve Swanson and his wife Michelle, and Samuel; special friend, Emmy Boden; and many cousins, great-nieces, great-nephews, other family and friends.
A service to celebrate Larry’s life will be Saturday April 27, at the Legion Hall in Dorchester from noon to 4 p.m. A private burial service will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to a local or veteran’s organization in recognition of Larry’s civic spirit. Arrangements by Kuncl Funeral Home.
