Larry Schwanke

Larry August Schwanke, 76, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Sunday, November 19, 2017, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa.

Larry was born October 13, 1941, in Shelby County, Iowa, to August J. and Marie (Schraeder) Schwanke. In 1947, the family moved to Atlantic. Larry attended country school through the seventh grade. He graduated from Atlantic High School in 1959. Shortly after graduating, Larry joined the US Air Force. Early in Larry’s career, he worked on drones during their experimental stage. He was a flight engineer on C141s and C5s and after 20 years of service, he retired as a Senior Master Sargent (SMSGT).

On November 23, 1960, he married Charlette Gregg in Alamogordo, New Mexico. After Larry retired from the Air Force, they moved to Belview, Nebraska, where he started the Neighborhood Owners Agency with Allstate. After retiring, he sold the business and he and Charlette moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico.

After the death of Charlette in 2014, Larry moved back to Atlantic. On January 9, 2015, he married Donnis Tanner.

Larry was always a hard worker and when he had spare time one of his enjoyments was hunting coyotes and flying his personal drone.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Charlette; and a sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Otto Behnken Jr.

Larry is survived by his wife, Donnis Schwanke of Atlantic, IA; a daughter, Bodwin (Jerry) Holmes of Omaha, NE; a son, Larry “Bud” (SueAnn) Schwanke of Omaha, NE; grandchildren, Sara (Alex) Greenman, Micah and Nathan Schwanke; four great-grandchildren; step-daughter, Denise King and her fiancé, Brian Paulsen of Des Moines, IA; step-grandchildren, Sara and Hanna King; two brothers, Donald (Jean) Schwanke of Winter Garden, FL and Dennis (Sue) Schwanke of Atlantic, IA; a sister, Nadine (Larry) Tindell of Osage City, KS; and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a visitation from 1:00 – 1:45 p.m., Friday, November 24, 2017, at Hockenberry Family Care Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa.

A graveside service with military honors will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 24, 2017, at the Atlantic Cemetery, Atlantic, Iowa.

Memorials may be left to the American Legion Memorial Building (Armory) in Atlantic, Iowa.