Larry “Joe” Pumroy, 77, of Monticello, Ind. passed away at 7:40 a.m. Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at his residence.
He was born Oct. 14, 1942 in Gary, Ind. to Lawrence and Dorothy (Salrin) Pumroy.
Joe was a graduate of Union Township High School near Kingsford Heights, Ind. and worked as a steel runout operator for Bethlehem Steel.
On Feb. 7, 1975 in Goshen, Ind. he married Marylou Lawrence.
He was a member of Monticello United Methodist Church.
Joe was a wonderful, loving husband, father, and papa. Joe traveled out west in his 20s to enjoy hunting deer and antelope. He then met the love of his life, Marylou, in his 30s and began raising a family.
He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, trap and skeet, fishing, golfing, boating, painting, playing guitar, ball room dancing, playing games and telling stories. Joe loved to teach us how to do all the things he loved. Joe had a laugh that you could never forget. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He loved to sing. He sang in the Monticello United Methodist choir and helped with Soup for the Soul. He also played on their dart ball league. Joe loved to spend time playing poker, cribbage, and euchre, with family at his mom’s house, family reunions, & at his house. Joe loved to sit and tell stories to anyone who listened, especially his children and grandchildren. They would sit and listen to the stories of Wampus cats, and going to the river when he was young, and all of his fun adventures with his friends and family growing up. Joe loved his children and grandchildren. You couldn’t get away without him bragging about all of them.
Joe proudly served his country in the Navy from 1959 to 1963. He was on two different ships during his time in the Navy; the USS Salamonie and the USS Arcturus. He was a member of the American Legion Post 81. He was a lifetime member of the NRA.
Joe and Marylou lived in Union Mills, Ind. for 29 years where they raised their children before his retirement to Monticello on Lake Freeman.
He is survived by his wife; children, Leah Hayes of Phoenix, Ariz., Andrew (Lisa) Pumroy of Michigan City, Ind., Lawrence (Kelli) Pumroy of Rolling Prairie, Ind., and Autumn (Micheal) Reese of LaPorte, Ind.; siblings, Penny Derucki of Rolling Prairie, Ind. and Barry (Cheryl) Pumroy of LaPorte; and grandchildren, Bryce, Jordan, Chase, Alex, Joseph, Georgia, and Andrew.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Jack, Jim, Gary, and Robert Pumroy.
A graveside service with full military rites will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 at Pine Lake Cemetery, La Porte, with Pastor Brian Beeks of the Monticello United Methodist Church officiating.
Memorial contributions may be given to the family or to the Monticello United Methodist Church to benefit Soup for the Soul. Springer-Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home of Monticello handled the arrangements.
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