Larry Joe Vandewater, 85, of Greenfield

Funeral and Masonic Services: Will be held on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Fairview Congregational Church, Rural Stuart with burial following in the Greenfield Cemetery. Pastor Gary Freeland will officiate the service. Masonic services will be conducted by the Greenfield Crusade Lodge No. 386 A.F. & A.M.  Full military graveside rites will be conducted by the Greenfield American Legion Head-Endres Post No. 265 & V.F.W Post No. 5357 and the Air Force Military Honor Guard.  A luncheon will follow the burial at the Olive Branch in Greenfield. The Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield is in charge of the professional arrangements. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.lambfuneralhomes.com. 

Open Visitation: Will be held on Monday, February 3, 2025, at the Lamb Funeral Home in Greenfield from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Tuesday, February 4th, one hour prior to services at the Fairview Congregational Church, Rural Stuart. 

Memorials: In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Iowa Aviation Museum, 2251 Airport Rd, Greenfield, Iowa, 50849.

Larry Joe Vandewater passed away January 28, 2025 at his home. He was born on November 7, 1939 in Harrison Township, Adair County, Iowa, son of Lloyd Leslie and Erma Audrey (Norris) Vandewater.

Larry attended the country school in Harrison Township through 8 th grade, then high school in Greenfield, graduating in 1958.

Larry continued his education at Capital City Commercial College in Des Moines and received a degree in higher Accounting.

On March 31, 1967, Larry married Jean Kay Rhine at the Methodist Church in Earlham, Madison County, Iowa and they made their home in Harrison Township, Adair County, Iowa.

Larry served 6 years in the Iowa Air National Guard. He was a lifetime farmer, raising free-range Timber hogs, cattle, row crops plus various other things like pumpkins and making apple cider. He loved flying, starting in 1974, obtaining his Commercial Pilots license in 2012. Larry was very active in Amateur Radio, getting his license in 1979. He had memberships in Hiawatha, Creston and Des Moines Amateur Radio Clubs. Larry belonged to the Greenfield American Legion. He was past resident of Adair County Farm Bureau and Adair County Pork Producers; past Worshipful Master Crusade Lodge of Greenfield and served in several of the offices including 8 years as Secretary; served over 25 years as an Adair County Sheriff Reserve Officer; over 16 years as Harrison Township Trustee; served as Director and helped with starting/building the Iowa Aviation Museum in Greenfield; served as a Director of the Adair County Historical Society and the board for the Adair County Landfill.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife Jean, his parents, infant brother Larry Wayne, sister Janet (Larry) Rosenbohm.

He is survived by nephews: Kevin (Michele) Rosenbohm, Mike (Marsha) Rosenbohm, Danny Joe (Kathy) Rosenbohm, all from Graham, MO; Bradley Rhine, Griswold, IA, Aaron Poland, Henderson, IA, Bryce (Jamie) Poland, Treynor, IA, and nieces: Debbie (Tim) Miller, Hackett, AR. Amy Poland, Patchogue, NY and Melissa (Mark) Wisniewski, Avoca, IA. Great nephews: Matthew (Kylie) Rosenbohm, Nicholas (Glenda) Rosenbohm, Marc (Lacey) Rosenbohm and Cory (Brianna) Rosenbohm; great niece, Megan Rosenbohm (fiancé Zac Cain); and Very Special Friend, Sonja Miller; other great nieces and nephews; other relatives and many, many friends.