Larry Dean Lannigan of Caldwell, Idaho passed away peacefully at home from complications associated with Parkinsons disease on January 25, 2012. He was born September 20, 1935 to Ralph and Myrtle Lannigan on a "stump ranch" North of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, the youngest of 3 brothers and 2 sisters. He was raised in a log cabin by his family who had left the dustbowl of Kansas during the Great Depression for a better life in Idaho.
Larry learned to hunt, fish and be self-sufficient from an early age. He also learned a strong work ethic. As he matured, he farmed and logged for his family and others, as well as developing a keen interest in all things mechanical.
He graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1953 after attending his Junior year in Caldwell where his parents had moved in 1951. Larry then went to work at various jobs including fighting forest fires, working in a seed processing plant, roofing for a contractor, and working at a lumber
yard.
Receiving his diploma in Auto Mechanics from Boise Junior College in 1957, as well as attending numerous short service schools for automotive repair and welding, Larry went to work as a mechanic at a car dealership, but graduated to repairing gas and diesel farm equipment and trucks for local repair shops in the Marsing- Caldwell area.
Around this time he met the love of his life, Leonna Zittel from Homedale and they were married on July 19, 1957. The following year they bought their first home in Caldwell.
In October 1958, Uncle Sam came calling and Larry was drafted into the Army, going to Fort Carson, Colorado for basic training. He then went to Fort Benning, Georgia as a member of the 2nd Combat engineers where he used his mechanical and supervisory skills to run a motor pool on a battalion scale. Coming back to Idaho in October 1960, Larry resumed his mechanical career and also joined the Idaho National Guard. In October 1961, he was once again called up by the US Army during the Berlin Crisis. He supervised maintenance and repair of track and wheeled vehicles on a company level at Fort Lewis, Washington while acting as Motor Sergeant and Platoon Sergeant. Larry returned to Idaho after 1 year, resuming his mechanical career and continued with the Idaho National Guard until July 1965, holding the rank of E6 SFC.
That same year, Larry also taught Automotive Service and acted as Co-op Coordinator at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Oregon. He did this all while attending more classes at Boise Junior college.
In the meantime, Larry and Leonna had started their family, having 2 sons, Brad and Daren.
An opportunity to teach and run vocational education programs at Lewis-Clark State College had him move the family to Lewiston from 1966-1972.
During this time, Larry really began his academic education in earnest using his GI benefits to achieve his Bachelor of Science degree in Trade and Industrial Education at Oregon State University in 1968, a Master of Education degree from the University of Idaho in 1972, and a specialist degree from University of Idaho.
When another opportunity arose to work for the State Vocational Education Department in Boise, he moved the family back to Caldwell in 1972. He worked in various capacities running and funding multiple post-secondary programs for the entire state of Idaho until his retirement in the spring of 1995.
Throughout his life, Larry had many interests, talents, and hobbies including hotrods, rock hunting, cutting and polishing, yard-work, fishing, shooting, gold-mining & prospecting, western and military history, reading, brewing beer, baking bread, cross-country skiing, white-water rafting and working on his rental houses. He became an expert on Winchester 1906 " boys model" pump rifles, and also became a very astute and savvy investor in stocks, bonds and real estate (self taught). In later years, Larry really enjoyed his cabin at Lake Cascade and family trips to Mexico and Ireland.
Larry was extremely supportive of his grandchildren and went to their sporting and musical events every chance he could. If there's anything he would like to be remembered for, it's that he could fix or build anything out of metal, wood or plastic. Oh, and he had a great sense of humor.
Larry is survived by Leonna, his loving wife of 54 years, sister Donna Robinson, sons Brad (Lori) Lannigan and Daren Lannigan, grandchildren Kelsey, Kelly, Kristina and Mick, great granddaughter Sunnie, step-grandson Jeffrey (Sheila) Roberts, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Larry was preceded in death by parents Ralph and Myrtle, sister Nada and brothers Darrell and Arden.
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