Larry G. Olk, 80

Larry Gerald Olk, 80, passed away on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at the
Minneapolis VA Medical Center.

Larry was born on July 5, 1942, in Hampton, Iowa to Ike and Dagmar Olk.
Larry graduated from Sheffield-Chapin Community High School in 1961 after
which he attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, graduating in 1965 with
degrees in business and economics.  While attending Wartburg, Larry met the
woman that he would spend his life with, Emma Easton.  They were married in
Strawberry Point, Iowa in 1964.  To this marriage of 58 great years, came the
birth of their children, Kathy, and Kris.

After graduating from college, Larry began a career with the Rath Packing
Company in Waterloo, Iowa. Within a short time, he was drafted into the U.S.
Army, 1966-1968, during which he also spent time in Vietnam.  As with many
veterans of Vietnam, Larry was left with experiences that would build him up,
as well as haunt him for the remainder of his life.

After being discharged from the Army, Larry returned to The Rath Packing
Corporation.  Beginning in 1975, Larry went to work for Hormel Foods, where
he would serve out the remainder of his career, retiring in 2005 (after
traveling too many air miles to calculate).  During his career, Larry built a
wealth of good friendships that would last throughout his days.

After retiring from Hormel, Larry and Emma moved to Sheffield, where he was
able to spend time giving back to the community he grew up in, becoming
active in the Democratic Party, the Lion’s Club, the American Legion, and
the Iowa Democratic Veterans Caucus, to name a few.  He was also afforded
more time to spend on a hobby he truly loved; woodworking.  Through his work
with several veteran’s groups, Larry would begin to find peace and
resolution to his time in Vietnam.  This came through working with many
groups as an advocate for veteran’s causes, as well as speaking about his
and other veteran’s experiences.  Larry was able to address several groups
such as middle, high school and college age students, veteran groups, and
community leaders. One talk, in particular, was of great importance to him
and was titled, ‘The Trailing Edge of War’.  Many of these talks were
done while battling through health issues which made it difficult for him to
speak.  He was a wonderful and generous husband, father, and grandfather. His
greatest devotion was to his family, particularly his grandchildren, for whom
he felt enormous pride and love.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother (Ike and Dagmar Olk), his
brother, Norman Olk, sisters Donna Joens, Deloris Meyer and Iva Griep,
brothers-in-law Harold Meyer and Stan Griep and son-in-law John Shirk.

Larry is survived by his wife, Emma Olk of Sheffield, IA, his daughter Kathy
(Mark) Shirk Coen (Lakeville, MN), Kris (Kari) Olk (Burnsville, MN), and
grandchildren; Jacob, Nathan and Sydney Shirk and Grady and Cameron Olk, also
his sister, Barb (Jim) Long (Henderson, NV), sister-in-law, Eleanor Olk
(Sheffield, IA), brother-in-law, David Joens (Cedar Falls, IA) as well as
many nieces and nephews.

Larry’s family would like to thank the staff at the Minneapolis VA Medical
Center for the help and kindness in the last several weeks…their compassion
and care gave Larry a true feeling of comfort.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 2, 2023
at Zion-St. John Lutheran Church in Sheffield, Iowa, with visitation one hour
prior to the service.  Honorary pallbearers are Larry’s grandchildren;
Jacob, Nathan, and Sydney Shirk and Grady and Cameron Olk.   A light lunch
will be served immediately after the service.  Interment at the Iowa Veterans
Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa will be held at a later date.  In lieu of
flowers, memorials offered will be given to various organizations that serve
veterans.