Larry Dean McClannahan, age 73, of Mondamin, passed away on Thursday, May 6, 2021, at Veterans’ Memorial Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. Larry was born March 2, 1948, in Council Bluffs, to Q and Fama (Ruffcorn) McClannahan. Larry was raised on a farm south of Mondamin and graduated from West Harrison High School in 1966. Larry then attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in sociology. During his years at Cornell he was a member of the football team and received recognition as an all-conference player. Shortly after he graduated college he was drafted into the United States Army to serve his country during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 1972 as a decorated veteran.
After his time in the army, Larry moved to Omaha where he worked several different jobs, one of which was as an animal control officer for the Omaha Humane Society where he protected the citizens of Omaha from vicious garden snakes and racoons. After living in the city for a few years, he returned to the Mondamin area to farm. In the 1980’s, Larry began his career in social services. He worked for Boys’ Town as a counselor and for the Pottawatamie County Juvenile Detention Center. In the 1990’s, Larry started working for Harrison County Social Services in Logan, where he worked until his retirement in 2010. Larry was very dedicated and committed to his work and worked very long days and weekends. Larry was a strong advocate for the children and families of Harrison County and worked hard to help them all achieve their goals in life. Larry stayed very active after retirement helping his neighbors and friends.
Larry was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to go fishing with friends and found his greatest joy in watching others catch fish rather than catching them himself. He had great respect for our environment and enjoyed gardening and planting trees. His enjoyment of planting trees can be seen by all the trees he planted around his house. He was known by many for his sweet corn and tomatoes and regularly delivered them to several people in the area. He was also a very good musician and enjoyed playing guitar and banjo. Larry enjoyed hearing, but mostly telling, jokes to anyone he encountered. Most times his animated joke-telling ability was better than the joke itself.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Q and Fama McClannahan and his nephew, Lance Laughhunn.
Larry is survived by his sister Jill Laughhunn and her husband John, niece Ann Stout and her husband Bob, nephew Colby Laughhunn, great-nephews Keaton Kell, Sulley Stout, and Logan Laughhunn and many cousins and friends.
Larry’s wishes are for memorials to be directed to the Mondamin Fire and Rescue Department, or for everyone to do something good for the environment….. PLANT A TREE!!!
Per Larry’s request, there will be no services.
