Larry Melvin Phillips

Mr. Larry M. Phillips, age 80, of Anita, IA, passed away on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at Des Moines VA Medical Center.

Larry Melvin Phillips was born on August 13, 1943, to Russell Glenn and Daisy Carol Phillips in Swan, IA. He joined two siblings, sister Lillian and brother Jim. He spent his childhood in several school districts, including a small time in Washington State. Upon returning to Iowa in 1948, he began school in Perry, IA. In 1950, the family moved to Anita, IA, where Larry attended Grant #9 and then graduated from Anita High School in 1961.

After graduation, he worked as a carpenter for Hutchins Construction until he was called up for service duty during the Vietnam War. Larry served as a military police officer at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam. Upon his discharge from the service, he started his own construction company. In September 1968, he was married to Joan Lovell. On the day after Thanksgiving that same year, an accident permanently paralyzed him from the waist down. After that accident, he began his business by building trophies in the basement of the Legion Hall with his wife Joan until her death in 2000. Larry later married Mary Lou in 2003. Together, they enjoyed 20 years together until her death in 2022.

Larry continued to work in his shop behind the house, doing woodwork and rock cutting, until his health declined. He will be greatly missed. God bless.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Daisy; sister, Lillian, and her husband, Ron Wilson; his first wife, Joan; and second wife, Mary Lou. He is survived by his brother Jim and his wife Donna of Anita; stepchildren Tamara McCarron (Dennis) and Wade Little (Jodi); step-grandchildren Mark, Elizabeth, Kevin, Kailey, Brittany, and Colleen; and step-great-grandchildren Avalon, Camdyn, Gregory, Kia, Isaac, and Isaiah; plus several nieces and nephews.

Graveside service with full military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, IA. Following the graveside service, a Celebration of Life gathering will be held at the Anita American Legion from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on May 23.

Memorials may be directed to the Larry Phillips Family, to be designated to many of his favorite local organizations, and may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.