Larry Dean Raney
November 6, 1939 — January 23, 2024
Larry Dean Raney of Pleasantville, Iowa, was born November 6, 1939 to Carl and Doris (Kimzey) Raney in Swan, Iowa. He was the oldest of four children and was raised in Swan. He graduated with the Pleasantville class of 1958, where he played football and ran track. While growing up, Larry welded with his father and grandfather at Raney Motor and Machine Shop in Pleasantville, making it a three generation operation. After graduating high school, Larry joined the Army Reserves before starting full-time employment at Western Tool/AMF in Des Moines, where he worked for 28 years until they closed the Des Moines plant. He retired from Pella-Rolscreen in 2002 after 11 years of employment. He took great pride in never missing a day of work.
Larry was united in marriage to Virginia (Hunt) Raney on June 14, 1974 at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They had one daughter, Erin.
Larry, also known as Jake, John, Lar Bear, and Rainbow, had a variety of hobbies throughout his life, but most involved being outside and being active. He was known for his love of mushroom hunting, fishing, and trapping. He was a charter member of the Pleasantville Country Club and made appearances on ‘Let’s Go Bowling’. It was common for him to have a camera in hand or to share the bounty from his garden. Larry and Virginia loved to travel, camp, and ride horses together. He was very proud of his childhood in Swan, and always had a Swan story to share. He was notorious for entertaining children with his Donald Duck impression. Larry had a joy to him that radiated to all around.
He found great joy in his grandchildren Jake and Emmy, and taking them on bike rides or fishing. Jake’s favorite memories with Papa are picking the garden, fishing, and target practice. Emmy’s are when she would ride in the back of the truck to go fishing, Monday morning waffles, and riding on the lawn mower.
Larry went to be with Jesus on January 23, 2024 after a battle with Alzhiemers at the age of 84, though he always claimed to stay 39. He had been residing at Accura of Pleasantville and Westridge in Knoxville. He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Doris Raney, two brothers Steven Raney and Michael (Pete) Raney, his father and mother in law Russell and Ruth Hunt, his brother in law Don Bales, and a nephew Jerry. Those surviving Larry are his wife Virginia, daughter Erin (Todd) Cook of Pleasantville, grandchildren Jacob Hiemstra, Emerson Hiemstra, and Lauren Cook, his sister Jackie Bales, and brother in law and sister in law, Arlos and Patty Hunt..
Those desiring to memorialize Larry are asked to do a kind act for others, as he was known to do. Those wanting to leave a monetary memorial may support the Pleasantville Youth Initiative.
Larry was united in marriage to Virginia (Hunt) Raney on June 14, 1974 at The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They had one daughter, Erin.
Larry, also known as Jake, John, Lar Bear, and Rainbow, had a variety of hobbies throughout his life, but most involved being outside and being active. He was known for his love of mushroom hunting, fishing, and trapping. He was a charter member of the Pleasantville Country Club and made appearances on ‘Let’s Go Bowling’. It was common for him to have a camera in hand or to share the bounty from his garden. Larry and Virginia loved to travel, camp, and ride horses together. He was very proud of his childhood in Swan, and always had a Swan story to share. He was notorious for entertaining children with his Donald Duck impression. Larry had a joy to him that radiated to all around.
He found great joy in his grandchildren Jake and Emmy, and taking them on bike rides or fishing. Jake’s favorite memories with Papa are picking the garden, fishing, and target practice. Emmy’s are when she would ride in the back of the truck to go fishing, Monday morning waffles, and riding on the lawn mower.
Larry went to be with Jesus on January 23, 2024 after a battle with Alzhiemers at the age of 84, though he always claimed to stay 39. He had been residing at Accura of Pleasantville and Westridge in Knoxville. He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Doris Raney, two brothers Steven Raney and Michael (Pete) Raney, his father and mother in law Russell and Ruth Hunt, his brother in law Don Bales, and a nephew Jerry. Those surviving Larry are his wife Virginia, daughter Erin (Todd) Cook of Pleasantville, grandchildren Jacob Hiemstra, Emerson Hiemstra, and Lauren Cook, his sister Jackie Bales, and brother in law and sister in law, Arlos and Patty Hunt..
Those desiring to memorialize Larry are asked to do a kind act for others, as he was known to do. Those wanting to leave a monetary memorial may support the Pleasantville Youth Initiative.
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