Larry Schoolmeester

Larry Arlin Schoolmeester passed away at age 76 on July 11, 2021. He will be remembered as husband, father, grandfather, always up for one-on-one basketball, and Papa Pancake.

Larry was born on December 3, 1944, to Harry and Mildred Schoolmeester in Pipestone, Minnesota. He was the youngest of three children, with one brother and one sister. The family was active in the First Reformed Church and while his mother played organ for services, the rest of the family sang in the choir. He attended elementary, junior, and high school in Edgerton, and was part of the 1960 Flying Dutchman State Basketball Championship team. The small-town team beating the larger schools for the single-class title was a Midwestern basketball fairy tale and the team had reunions throughout the years, including at their induction into the Minnesota High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

After high school, Larry enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served from 1965 to 1968, at which time he was honorably discharged to return home and help his father on the family farm. He enjoyed various league sports, including bowling and softball. In 1972, one of his bowling buddies set him up on a blind date with the new Home Economics teacher at the high school, Marilyn Joann Muller. After a first date in January, they were engaged by Easter, and married on August 5, 1972. They made a home together in Edgerton and raised three children: Timothy, Julie, and Thomas. Larry worked for the Edgerton Farmers’ Elevator for 32 years. 

In addition to playing sports, Larry enjoyed watching all sports. He made a point to sit his children down and let them know that being a Minnesota sports fan usually meant a season ending in heartbreak, with the ’87 and ’91 Twins being the exception. In his later years, he loved to point out to his daughter that “the Lynx are the only ones who consistently win.” An outdoorsman, he also enjoyed fishing and hunting, and spent a lot of time outdoors with his children and grandchildren. He loved being a grandparent and never missed a game, recital, or school event. He made sure his grandchildren appreciated ice cream and never made them eat peas.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Mildred; brother, Bruce; and brothers-in-law Duane Landhuis and Roger Muller. He is survived by his wife of nearly 49 years, Marilyn; son, Tim and his wife, Jenny, of Dell Rapids, South Dakota; daughter, Julie and her partner, Stephen Bright, of Las Vegas, Nevada; and son, Tom and his wife, Jessica, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; grandchildren Luke, Sarah, and Autumn, of Dell Rapids; grandchildren Will and Mila of Sioux Falls; sister, Beverlyn Landhuis, of Stanton, Iowa; sisters-in-law Barb Schoolmeester, Karen Muller, Carol Muller, and Debra Muller; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

Visitation with the family will be held on Saturday, July 17, at 9:30 am at the First Reformed Church in Edgerton, Minnesota, with services at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Larry Schoolmeester, please visit our floral store.