Obituary - Larry Pommer

HARTINGTON — Larry F. Pommer, 82, Hartington, died Sept. 15, 2021, at his residence.

Mass of Christian Burial Sept. 21 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Hartington, with the Rev. Owen Korte officiating.

Burial of his cremated remains will be at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Hartington.

Visitation and a Vigil service were Monday at the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.

Honorary pallbearers were Burnell Herbolsheimer, Rob Dump, Mark Leader, John Leader, Randy Johnson and Laine Warkenthien.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.

Larry was born June 17, 1939 to Lawrence and Sylvia (Peterson) Pommer in Willow Lake, S.D.  He graduated from Willow Lake High School in 1957.  He joined the U.S. Navy in 1957 and served until June 1960, when he was honorably discharged as a Petty Officer 3rd Class.  He was stationed on a submarine in Hawaii and Japan for most of his service. He spent his freshman year of college at the University of Montana, Missoula, on a football scholarship.  Larry transferred to South Dakota State University at Brookings, S.D., and graduated in 1964 with a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics.  Larry was employed by the Federal Land Bank as a branch manager from 1965-1984.  He married Alice Leader April 22, 1967, in Constance.  They had three children Lisa, Michael and Robert.

In 1984, Larry started his own business as Pommer Appraisal Service and continued with that until his retirement in 2006.  Over the next 10 years, he and Alice volunteered in various National Parks, which turned out to be a wonderful and enjoyable opportunity.

Hartington was their only home for 54 years and during this time he enjoyed many activities, such as golfing, bowling and hunting, but most of all, the Ten Pin Lounge softball team era.  He was active in Holy Trinity Church, the Knights of Columbus and the Chamber of Commerce, serving as president is 1983 during Hartington’s Centennial celebration.

Larry is survived by his wife, Alice, Hartington; daughter, Lisa (Bradley) Kucera, Dixon, Mont.; Michael (Jenifer) Pommer, Wakefield; and Robert (Lexi) Pommer, Yutan; nine grandchildren Zach, Emma, Kate and Jack Pommer; Olivia Chapman, Leighton, Langstyn, Sawyer and Kruz Pommer; a sister, Barbara Warkenthien, Willow Lake, S.D.; five brothers-in-law; seven sisters-in-law, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence and Sylvia Pommer; brother-in-law, Elwood Warkenthien; and nephew, Loren Warkenthien.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the National Park Foundation in Larry’s name.  The website is nationalparksfoundation.org.