Larry K. Neitzel

Resting in the loving arms of Jesus, Our Savior, Larry Kay Neitzel passed away August 1, 2014 at the age of 79. Larry was born on December 2, 1934 in the Township of Portland, Dodge County, WI to Ervin F. and Irene (Skopp) Neitzel. In his younger years, he lived on farms in the Reeseville and Waterloo area. In 1946, he and his parents moved to Beaver Dam where he attended St. Stephen’s Lutheran School and Beaver Dam High School, graduating in 1952. On October 16, 1954, Larry married his life partner, Shirley E. Nefzer at St. Johns E & R Church in Kohlsville, WI. He joined a carpenter crew immediately after graduation and was a carpenter all his life. He served his country in the U.S. Navy Reserves and served two years active duty in the Navy Seabees as a Second Class builder in Newfoundland and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Starting his own construction Business in 1972, Larry was president and treasurer of Larry Neitzel Builders for 32 years, retiring due to health problems. After retiring from carpentry work fulltime, Larry still did many small jobs for friends, family, and St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church. Larry was an active member of St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam having served on the church council, building and grounds committee, usher, member of the Friendship League, the counting committee, and anywhere else God’s House needed him. His favorite recreation was snowmobiling. He was a member of the Sno-Kats of Beaver Dam and served as president, vice president, and board member in the club. Larry was a board member of the Dodge County Association of Snowmobile Clubs and a Dodge County Rep. for the AWSC for 11 years. Larry’s other passion was the 1954 Kaiser that he owned. He was a present member of the Badger Antique Car Club, the Kaiser Frazer Owners Club, and loved to ride in the parades even after he sold his car. Larry served on the Dodge County Friends of the Parks Committee as well as the Aid Association for Lutherans Board. He was a member of the John E. Miller American Legion Post 146 of Beaver Dam. Larry is survived by his wife of 59 ¾ years, Shirley; his son Kenneth (Judy) of Milwaukee; his daughters: Joy (Jim) Krahn and Nancy (Keith) Reamer both of Beaver Dam; 11 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren; his sister-in-law, Jane Nefzer of Milwaukee; his aunt, Vira Neitzel; and further survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Irene Neitzel, his sister, Donna Muche, his brothers-in-law: Walter Muche, Roland and George Nefzer, his sister-in-law, May Nefzer and his father and mother-in-law: Hiram and Emma Nefzer. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 5, 2014 from 5 until 8 p.m. at the Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home, N7199 N. Crystal Lake Rd., Beaver Dam with the Beaver Dam American Legion to pay their respects at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will also be held on Wednesday, August 6th from 11 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 12 p.m. at St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Beaver Dam. A luncheon will immediately follow the service at the church. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens, Township of Trenton, WI with military honors conducted by the John E. Miller American Legion Post 146 of Beaver Dam. In lieu of flowers, per Larry’s wishes, memorials may be directed to St. Stephen’s Ev. Lutheran Church Legacy Endowment Fund.