Larry J. TerHark, 82, of Clarion, passed away surrounded by his family on
Friday, October 8, 2021 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion. Funeral services
for Larry TerHark will be held Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 12:00 PM at United
Church of Christ Congregational, 121 Third Avenue in Clarion, with Pastor Bill
Kem officiating. Burial will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 13, 2021 from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM at
the church in Clarion. Larry Jake, son of Jacob and Grace (Carolus) TerHark was
born in Kanawha on January 16, 1939. He graduated from Clarion High School in
1957. After high school, he attended Eagle Grove Jr. College, where he played
basketball during this time his team played in the NCAA Jr. College basketball
tournament. Larry spent most of his time working for his brother-in-law, Duane
Thompson, but did find some free time to go roller skating at Lake Cornelia. He
joined the National Guard in 1961, serving for six years. On June 17, 1962,
Larry was united in marriage to Sharon Loux. They lived on a farm southwest of
Clarion and raised three children. Larry farmed for many years. He worked for
Clarion Elevator Service and traveled all over Iowa. In 1998 he began working at
Monsanto until 2018. In, 2001, Larry and Sharon moved into town. Larry took
great pride in his Christmas light display every year. He would start looking
for new decorations in October. Larry had two great loves in his life: family
and the Iowa Hawkeyes. Larry loved spending time with his children and
grandchildren. He never passed up on an opportunity to go watch one of the
grandkids play basketball, volleyball or football. He instilled his love for the
Iowa Hawkeyes in all his children and grandchildren. He and Sharon enjoyed
spending Saturdays during football season in Kinnick Stadium cheering on his
"Hawks". He really loved when he could take his grandkids to those games. Larry
wasn't a man of many words but his family knew how much he loved them. Larry is
survived by his wife Sharon; three children, Todd (Shelly) TerHark of Algona,
Steve (Katrina) TerHark of Clarion and Tina (Trevor) Gress of Charter Oak; seven
grandchildren; Laura (Matt) Odland, Luke (fiancé Karly) TerHark, Austin Gress,
Spencer Gress, Hannah (fiancé Chris) TerHark, Sydney TerHark, and Jarek TerHark;
one great grandchild, Brynlee Odland; sister Janet Engebretsen of Jesup;
brothers-in-law, Bob (Connie) Loux of Clarion, Ken (Kathy) Loux of Dunwoody,
Georgia and Paul Hunt of Carlisle; many nieces, nephews and friends. Preceded in
death by his parents, Jacob and Grace.
