Garber, Larry Gene (1936-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Oct 8 p. 8

Birth date: 1936 Oct 9

text of obituary:

LARRY GENE GARBER

Larry Gene Garber, 70, of Greensburg, Kan., died Aug. 17, 2007, in a vehicle accident. He was born Oct. 9, 1936, to Ray and Beulah Hartzler Garber in Garden City, Mo.

As an infant, he was so small his mother placed him in a shoe box in the chest of drawers. In 1945 his family moved to Alpha, Minn. He quit school at age 16 to begin farming with his father.

Because of his size, growing up years were difficult for him. In the late 1950s, he attended the Little People of America Convention. Through meeting others whose physical challenges exceeded his, he came home with a renewed spirit and zest for life.

In October 1966, he was baptized at Alpha Mennonite Church.

On Dec. 2, 1961, he married Millie Anne Bolton in Jackson, Minn. After being divorced from her, he married D. Marie Fleming Hiskett in 1990.

For a number of years he worked as an auto mechanic in Jackson, Minn., later moving to rural Alpha, where he farmed with his father. In the early 1960s he began working with Univac Inc. in Jackson, making computer cards and other accessories. He retired in the 1980s, taking early disability retirement because of health issues.

He lived in Milford, Neb., for a number of years in the early 1990s. After his separation he moved into Hickory Homes Retirement Center in Hesston to be closer to his mother. After her death in 1999, he moved to Komatara in Greensburg.

His hobbies included fishing and doing embroidery work. He enjoyed the family fishing trips to Redstone, Colo., and later fishing at lakes in Kansas. He was able to ride out the May 4, 2007, tornado in Greensburg in his living room easy chair.

Survivors include his daughter, Joy Ann Garber of Jackson, Minn.; a sister, JoAnn Jantz of Haviland; and a brother, Ron Garber of Hesston.

Funeral services were held at Haviland (Kan.) United Methodist Church. Burial was in Soldier Creek Cemetery of Belvidere, Kan.