Larry Lee Eilert

Larry Eilert, 75, died on January 8, 2016 after a difficult battle with Lewy Body Dementia. He was born at home in rural Jasper County, IA the youngest of six children to William and Marie Eilert. He attended a one-room country school through eight grade first, then Berg Junior High School before graduating from Newton High School in 1958. He participated in FFA and a few sports. After graduation, he drove a school bus for a year before enrolling in Iowa State University. He pledged Alpha Gamma Rho and was working in the dorm washing pots and pans until trying out for track. He had high jumped briefly in high school, but at Iowa State, he excelled, winning the Big 8 indoor and outdoor championships in 1962 and doing well at various track meets throughout the Midwest. He also competed at the NCAA meet his senior year. After graduation in 1963, he went to work as a sales rep for J.I. Case in Nebraska. Planning to marry Rosa who was teaching in CA, he went to work for New England Life in Sacramento. Rosa and Larry were married August 20, 1966 in his church near Newton, IA. They honeymooned pulling a U-Haul trailer on their way west. They lived in Sacramento until 1968 when he joined New Holland and they moved first to Portland, OR for training before settling in Wenatchee. Larry traveled throughout North Central Washington and North of Seattle servicing dealers while Rosa taught in Wenatchee. In 1970, they bought their five acre "ranch" in East Wenatchee where he, always a farmer, raised pigs and cattle before planting it to apples. In 1973, his first daughter, CeAnn, was born, then Carrie in 1975 and Cristina in 1978. In 1980, he bought a New Holland/ International dealership in Quincy and the family moved to Quincy. Larry was active in the Presbyterian Church, coached little girl's softball, was a Rotarian, and visited China and Washington, D.C. through the Washington Ag Forestry Leadership Program. In 1986, he sold his dealership to New Holland and the family moved back to East Wenatchee in 1987. In 1989, he bought his orchard near Sun Cove where he grew cherries and apples. He supported his girls in every way: dancing as Mother Ginger in the Nutcracker, correcting the refs at all their games, never missing a game even if it took driving through a whiteout, providing them all with college educations. After their marriages and with the arrival of his grandchildren, he tried to attend any and all activities that they participated in whether it be recitals, sports, kindergarten graduations. In 1998, he sold his orchard and devoted his time to golf, Rotary, driving the church bus and being Mr. Fix It for his family. He enjoyed an active life until six months before his death when his illness struck. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Rosa, his daughters, CeAnn Simpson, Chelmsford, England, Carrie (Brad) Isaak of Coulee City, and Cristina (Kristian) Azizeh of Maple Valley and eight grandchildren, Alec, Neal, and Lily Simpson, Gabrielle and Reece Isaak, and Taylor, Abigail, and Elliot Azizeh and his brother Wayne Eilert and sister Arlene Rinehart of Newton, IA and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, and his grandson, Gabriel Azizeh. Many thanks to Hospice and his caregivers first at Highgate Senior Living and then Caring Cottage. Miriam, Nancy, Virginia and Emma cared for him with love and kindness. His doctors and nurse practioners helped make his remaining life more comfortable. A Celebration of his Life will be held Saturday, January 16, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, 941 S. Miller in Wenatchee. Contributions may be made to the FUMC Hardship Fund or Rotary Foundation. Arrangements are assisted by Telford's Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Larry Lee Eilert

March 28, 1940 - January 8, 2016