Larry Poffenbarger

Larry G. Poffenbarger, age 87, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025. Larry was born in Council Bluffs on 11 February, 1938 to Arthur and Bertha (Thacker) Poffenbarger (Granny Henderson). He lived in the Southend of Council Bluffs for the first fourteen years of his life and then moved to The Farm where he spent his remaining years. He joined the Navy Reserve while still in high school, attending boot camp between his Junior and Senior years. He entered active service after high school and saw the world, 20 different countries, North Atlantic, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. After leaving active service, Larry worked for Western Electric/AT&T/Lucent Technologies for 40+ years as a steamfitter and retiring as a Construction Inspector. Larry missed the Navy so he found a Navy Reserve Seabee outfit. He spent another 20 years with that Battalion and attained the rank of Senior Chief Utilitiesman and managed to see some more of the world. He was extremely gifted in understanding mechanics of all applications. He loved reading and had a vast knowledge of history, geography and nature. His mom used to say that he would take things apart just to rebuild and put them back together. Larry was a lifetime member of Southside Christian Church, a member of Bluff City Lodge from 1977 until his passing, the Shrine and a Boy Scout leader of Troop 23 for thirty years.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, William Poffenbarger and Richard Poffenbarger; beloved daughter-in-law, Loretta Reed-Poffenbarger; brother-in-law, Mike Cowlham; and nephew, Bennie Plum. He is survived by his daughter, Tegwin and husband, Jay Christians; his son, Jeffrey Poffenbarger; granddaughters, Brandyn (Will Fox) Breitkreutz, Jessica (JR) Neal and Ashlee (Luke) Harm; 9 great-grandchildren, Kloee, Charlee, JD, Christopher, Emily, Ren, Marnee, AJ and Braylon; sisters, Ardith and husband, Robert Caputo, and Bertie Cowlham; nieces, Tracy Plum and Teri (Kelly) Kirk, other special nieces and nephews, and many special friends.

Services will be held at Hoy Kilnoski Funeral Home: Masonic service at 5:00 p.m. with visitation following from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025; funeral service on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. Interment is in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Shriner's Transportation Fund.