Larry Mark

Larry Mark was born on Halloween 1939. He was the first of two sons born to Paul and Marian Mark who farmed outside of Earlham.

Larry met Jean E Hougham in junior high. The two were married January 1960. They raised a family and enjoyed a happy, productive and socially rich life. They cherished the many friendships they developed together along the way.

Larry graduated from Drake University in 1964, with a political science degree and a psychology minor. He went to work as a district manager for General Motors where he remained until he opted to resign and form a partnership with Bill Cornick to buy a Chevrolet, Oldsmobile and Cadillac car dealership in Creston. Later, Larry and Bill opened a Breadeaux Pizza restaurant in Pella, followed by other locations.

A lifelong athlete, Larry played sports in high school followed by years of league basketball, tennis and golf. He also enjoyed hunting and skiing, both snow and water. Larry was a dedicated cyclist with over 50 years of distance bicycling and more than 40,000 road miles. In his 20s Larry was a dirt-track kart racer. In the early 2000s he bought a very special 1990 ZR1 Corvette which he drove in competitive speed events around the Midwest.

Community service was a way of life for Larry. He participated in multiple organizations including the Creston Association of Tennis, the Summit Lake Committee, Creston Country Club Board, the Corvette Club of Iowa and the Creston United Methodist Church Finance Committee. He served for nearly 30 years as chairman of the of Southwestern Community College Board.

Music was a big part of Larry’s life. He played trumpet in the high school band. Later, he played guitar and sang the music of artists like Jim Croce and Neal Diamond. He enjoyed a wide range of music throughout his life.

On Sept. 3, 2024, Larry departed this world peacefully.

Larry is survived by his wife, Jean E. Mark; his brother, Norman (Lisa); four children: Michael (Annie), Timothy (Elaine), Jeffery and Elizabeth (Fred Carpenter); eight grandchildren: Gillian, Andrew, Jennifer, Daniel, Mason, Taylor, Logan and Kate and eight great-grandchildren: Alexander, Vivian, Tucker, Lucy, Charlie, Zoey, Wren and April.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Marian Mark and by his beloved companion, Phoenix.T

The family will host a Celebration of Life event from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at Crestmore Golf Club, located at 1801 W. Townline St., Creston. In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions on Larry’s behalf can be made to Southwestern Community College.