On February 3, 2025, Larry Alan Walker passed away in Aurora, Nebraska, at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, Carol; their three sons, Jeff, Jason, and Brad, along with their families, which include seven grandchildren: Jeff and Janell (Bonifas) Walker of Lincoln, Nebraska, and their children Nolan, Jonah, and Sophia; Jason and Kori (Lane) Walker of Cape Coral, Florida, and their children Jacob, Samuel, and Emma; and Brad and Misha (Schaffer) Walker of Hastings, Nebraska, and their daughter Josie. Larry was preceded in death by his father, William Edward "Bud" Walker, his mother, Emma Louise (Zafft) Walker, and his only older sister, Corinne.

Born on July 9, 1946, in Monticello, Minnesota, Larry graduated from Madison High School in Madison, South Dakota, in 1964. He married Carol Ann Fuchs on April 29, 1967 in Yankton, South Dakota. They met while working together and after a brief courtship Larry sought permission from his father to marry. At the time they wished to wed he was 20 and Carol was about to turn 21, and the laws of the time did not allow them to marry without parental consent. His father wrote a handwritten note found among their belongings that granted that permission. They instead married a day before Carol's 21st birthday. They welcomed their first son, Jeffrey, in 1968, followed by Jason in 1970 and Bradley in 1974.

Larry can count his American Walker ancestors back to 1687 and is the ninth generation of the vast Walker family tree in this country. Larry was a simple man who valued a strong work ethic and a commitment to family. An auto mechanic since he was a teenager, his passion was in serving others. In the small towns of southeastern South Dakota, Larry worked tirelessly to repair cars, pickups, and heavy farm equipment, ensuring the people in his community could continue tending to their farms and families. His sons remember their father not only for his long hours of hard work but for his genuine enjoyment of the company of those he served: people who, like him, worked hard to provide for their families.

In 1978, Larry moved his family to Schuyler, Nebraska, where he became a truck driver for Schwann's Ice Cream. For ten years, he left home before dawn and returned after dark, driving his routes to mostly farmers in the surrounding counties. Once a year, during "family week," he would take individual members of his family along. His sons cherished these times, packing lunch to eat with him, listening to Paul Harvey on the radio, sharing an occasional ice cream treat, and meeting the people he often spoke about.

Throughout his children's childhood, Larry was the go-to person for repairs. Whether it was a bike, chair, tire, or anything related to their high school cars, he could fix it. Eventually, Larry shifted to a shorter workday and returned to his roots as an auto mechanic at various businesses. Later, he and Carol purchased a small RV park in Springfield, South Dakota, where Larry "retired." There, he spent his time clearing brush, maintaining the grounds, and socializing with travelers around the campfire.

When Larry was no longer able to manage the physical work, he and Carol moved to Benedict, Nebraska, in 2014, to be closer to their sons and enjoy a quieter retirement. For the next decade, Larry spent his days tinkering in the garage on his workbench or enjoying the view from the back porch, watching birds at the feeders as he drank from his coffee mug. He imparted the value of hard work, service to others, and the importance of taking time to enjoy life. Larry often wished for his sons to work "smarter" rather than harder, which is why he sacrificed so much for them to attend college and pursue their dreams.

He also shared with them a love for music and laughter. His record collection spanned many genres, including Elvis, The Beatles, Roy Orbison, and Charlie Rich, among others. One of his favorite movies was American Graffiti, and he loved watching and listening to early Bill Cosby records or watching the comedy of Redd Foxx, Bob Newhart, and Carol Burnett, and TV comedy shows Barney Miller, Taxi, and WKRP in Cincinnati. He was also fond of the police dramas of the 1970s, including Mannix, The Rockford Files, The Streets of San Francisco, Baretta, and Starsky & Hutch.

No memorial service or funeral is planned. The family asks that no monetary gifts be sent. Flowers or cards may be sent to Carol Walker, c/o Westfield Quality Care, 1313 1st Street, Aurora, Nebraska, 68818.