Aug. 16, 1940 — April 17, 2019

Larry Paul Waldschmidt, 78, of Dowagiac, passed away April 17, 2019.

A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at First United Methodist Church, 326 N. Lowe St., Dowagiac, with Pastor Carol Newman officiating. Burial will follow at South Wayne Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m., at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St., Dowagiac. Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or to the Local VA. Those wishing to share a memory of Larry online may so at clarkch.com

Larry was born Aug. 16, 1940, in Dowagiac, to Benjamin and Thelma (Szymonski) Waldschmidt Sr. He graduated from Dowagiac High School in 1959. Larry served his country in the U.S. Army from 1960 until 1962. Larry worked for Clark Equipment for more than 20 years as well Henco and retired from LECO from 20 years of service. In his spare time, he enjoyed hunting, gardening, and his dogs. Most of all he loved his family but under it all was a softy, but he denied it.

Larry is survived by his children Rodney Waldschmidt, of Dowagiac and Renee Crandall, of Dowagiac; grandchildren Daniel Crandall Jr., of Dowagiac and Emily Waldschmidt, of Cassopolis; great-grandchildren Abigail Crandall, Avery Crandall, Ryker Crandall; mother of children Joan Waldschmidt, of Dowagiac; brothers Ben Jr., Ed, John, Mike, Jim Waldschmidt; sisters Linda Mosier, Diane Wallace, and, Debbie Loveridge; and longtime girlfriend Barbara Morgan and family. Larry was preceded in death by his parents and brother Frank.