Larry L. Zahnd
Larry L. Zahnd
Larry L. Zahnd
1933-2017
Larry L. Zahnd of Kansas City, Missouri, died on Tuesday, March 28, 2017.
Larry was born August 1, 1933, in Savannah, Missouri. He was the second child of Lloyd R. and Mary N. (Gore) Zahnd.
Larry attended Savannah public schools and grad-uated from Savannah High School in 1951. In his senior year he achieved high academic status and was awarded the school’s top honor in both athletics and music.
Larry attended William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, graduating in 1955 with a Bachelor’s degree in economics. He was president of the senior class of 1955, president of his fraternity, Kappa Alpha Order, and a member of Aeons honor society.
Following graduation from college Larry served two years in the United States Navy, where he was a clerk for the U.S. Mine Service stationed in Long Beach, California. After his military service, he attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis, graduating with a J.D. degree in l960. He was chosen by his classmates to receive an award for exemplifying the highest ideals of the legal profession.
Larry practiced law in Maryville, Missouri for 43 years, retiring at the end of 2003. For a time he was appointed by Missouri Attorney General John C. Danforth to serve as Regional Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri. He represented Northwest Missourians from all walks of life, and was known for his character, integrity and compassion. In a plaque presented to him by the attorneys of the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Missouri upon his retirement Larry was described as a “fierce advocate and a good friend.”
Larry married Carole E. Clemmons on November 28, 1963. They raised two children, Craig and Elizabeth, in Maryville and in 2007 they moved to Kansas City.
Larry was always very involved in community service. For many years he served as a deacon at Maryville’s First Baptist Church, and was later a devoted member of Holmeswood Baptist Church in Kansas City. He served as a trustee of The Baptist Home and The Baptist Home Foundation, providing care for seniors in need. He joined the Maryville Rotary Club in 1960 and was a committed Rotarian his entire life. He held various Rotary leadership positions, including chapter president and district chair of the Rotary International campaign to eliminate polio. He was named Outstanding Rotarian of the Year in 1988, and was awarded the Rotary Foundation District Service Award in 1995.
Larry became a member of Masonic Lodge #71 A.F. & A.M. in Savannah in 1955. He was a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Moila Temple Shrine in St. Joseph. He was one who loved wisdom and coveted knowledge so that he might be a benefactor of men.
Larry is survived by his wife Carole and their two children: Craig and his wife Deana Zahnd of Overland Park, Kansas; and Elizabeth and her husband Tim Bergfeld of Florence, South Carolina. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Andrew and Adam Zahnd and Anya and Alex Bergfeld; his brother James and wife Judy Zahnd of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; and sister-in-law Linda Zahnd of Savannah, Missouri.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, March 31, and the funeral service will take place on Saturday, April 1 at 10:30 a.m. Both events will occur at Holmeswood Baptist Church, 9700 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. Burial services will take place at Savannah Cemetery in Savannah, Missouri at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holmeswood Baptist Church or the Zahnd Family Scholarship Fund (established in honor of Lloyd and Mary Zahnd) at William Jewell College, 500 College Hill, Liberty, MO 64068.
