Larry Scarpino

Larry Scarpino, age 86, died November 19,2020, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. Larry was born May 13, 1934, to William and Pearl (House) Scarpino. He was the youngest of four boys. Larry never met a stranger. He had many lifelong childhood friends that all stayed close throughout their lifetime. Larry attended St. Ambrose grade school in Des Moines. He later went on to Dowling Catholic High School. Larry loved to attend Dowling’s football games and root for his team! Larry graduated Dowling in 1952. He attended the University of Iowa, Drake University, and Grandview College (now University) in Des Moines. Larry joined the U.S. Army Reserve in June 1954 and completed his obligation in 1962, attending weekly drills and summer encampments. In his early days, Larry worked part-time at The Des Moines Register and Tribune in their sports department and was also a salesman food broker in his early married years. He stayed in sports PR work which also included stints with the Des Moines Oak Leafs Hockey Club, the Iowa Oaks Triple A baseball team, and the Knoxville raceway. Larry, then, broadened his horizons with the start of his own advertising and PR firm. In the mid-‘70s he was Public Relations Director and Editor of the Iowa Legionnaire Newspaper. He, then, went to work for AFSCME (American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees) for twenty years before retiring in 1997 - he had found a home there. Larry married Susan Kasel in 1963. They were blessed with four daughters: Christine, Ann, Lisa, and Kay. Larry loved sports, especially his Cardinals baseball! He was an avid movie-watcher and enjoyed crossword puzzles, especially the challenging ones. Whenever Larry didn’t know the meaning of a word, he went right to his bookshelf and grabbed the dictionary. “That way I will always remember what it means,” he’d say. Larry was sharp as a tack and had an excellent memory. Larry loved to sit and talk, especially with his children and grandchildren about his travels as a youth and the fun times with his childhood friends. He enjoyed traveling, especially by train. Larry is preceded in death by his parents, William and Pearl Scarpino; his brothers, Kenneth Scarpino, Edward Scarpino, and Billy Scarpino. He is survived by his wife Susan Scarpino and his four children, Christine (Jon) McLaughlin; Ann (William) Van Orsdel; Lisa (Dennis) Wiggins; Kay (Chad) Merley, and his grandchildren, Laura and Sam McLaughlin; William and Colton Van Orsdel; Kevin Wiggins, and Natalie Merley. Private family services will be held at Glendale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dowling High School and Food Bank of Iowa. “It’s a Wonderful Life”