Larry Jerome Wilson

Larry Jerome Wilson, 84, of West Des Moines, Iowa, passed away while surrounded by loved ones at the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center on July 5th, 2024. He was a strong, humble, and loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and his family is devastated by his passing.

Larry was born August 20th, 1939 in Le Roy, Illinois, the second child of Wesley and Dorothy Wilson. Hard living and hard work were something Larry learned early on as his father was rendered blind by a degenerative eye disease. At Le Roy High School, he met the love of his life, Dee Ann Douglass, and they would marry on September 6th, 1959. After a short stint at State Farm in Bloomington, Illinois, Larry drove cross country with Dee Ann where they attended Utah State University. There, he worked several odd jobs, including shoveling coal in the dormitory boiler room, to support his newborn daughters and wife, all while attending classes to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Management in 1964.

In Utah, Larry's love of conservation, fisheries, forestry, and parks and recreation blossomed as he joined the State of Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Starting as a Fisheries Assistant, Larry earned promotions that sent him from Logan to Vernal to Price, eventually earning the title of Supervisor of the Southeastern Region in 1974. As Supervisor, Larry's duties were a far cry from a Fishery Assistant, as he oversaw multiple hatcheries, was responsible for State parks and recreation areas, and often had to cowboy into the mountains to do dangerous work that was nothing short of trapping bears. Larry and Dee Ann also grew their family, having four beautiful daughters, including Deborah "Debbie", who tragically passed away at an early age of hydrocephalus.

In 1980, Larry was offered and accepted the position of Director of the Iowa Conservation Commission, moving his family to Windsor Heights, Iowa, the next year. Initially serving under Governor Robert D. Ray and later Governor Terry Branstad, he held this position until 1986 when the Conservation Commission was merged with three other agencies, leading to Larry becoming the first director of a new agency: the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

As head of the Conservation Commission and DNR, Larry was a champion of clean water and the Department created the blueprint for what ultimately became the Iowa Groundwater Protection Act. Larry further advocated for the expansion and protection of public lands and oversaw the establishment of several new state parks and recreation areas, as well as the State’s newest Forest, Loess Hills. Arguably his greatest achievement was overseeing the implementation of the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) Act of 1989, which provided hundreds of millions of dollars in grants for soil and water conservation, land acquisition and protection, historical projects, and vegetation management, and forever changed the course of conservation in this State. REAP continues to award grants to this day.

Larry held the position of Director of the DNR until 1999 when he was named Deputy Director, a position he kept until his retirement in 2002. Larry’s 19-year tenure as Director of the Iowa Conservation Commission and the Department of Natural Resources is the longest tenure ever held by a Conservation Commission or DNR Director. This is a testament to his diplomacy, integrity, and the respect that he earned at the State Capitol. Following his retirement and in recognition of his service, Ducks Unlimited dedicated three wetlands in his honor at the Muskrat Slough Wildlife Management Area, Spring Run Bird Conservation Area, and Riverton Wildlife Management Area.

A native of Illinois, Larry was a Chicago Cubs and Bears fan and also revered Abraham Lincoln, collecting dozens of books and countless items of memorabilia on the 16th President. In line with his professional life, Larry loved to hunt, fish, and spend time outdoors, becoming a Master Gardener and tirelessly working with Dee Ann to turn their Windsor Heights home into a gardening masterpiece featured in countless publications including Better Homes & Gardens Gardening Ideas magazine. He also loved spending time with his family, with him and Dee Ann hosting nearly every family event at their Windsor Heights residence. His family will forever miss his sense of humor, the sound of his voice, his laugh, his wisdom, and the strength he showed in their times of need.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Wesley and Dorothy, and his daughter, Deborah.

He is survived by his one true love and his wife of 65 years, Dee Ann; his dear sister Linda Sylvester (Carl) of Bloomington, Illinois; his beloved daughters Valorie Wilson (Roger Owens) of Des Moines, Julia Burke (Greg Goldizen) of Johnston and Michelle Jones-Woods (Jeff) of Urbandale; his grandchildren Michael Jones of Windsor Heights, Samantha McConeghey-Meditz (Sean) of Nashville, Tennessee and Brandon Burke of Johnston; and his great-grandchildren Edith Maeve Jones and Lennon Steven Meditz.

The family would like to thank the care and love shown to Larry by the staff at the Iowa Jewish Senior Life Center and Suncrest Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial contributions be made to Ducks Unlimited or Pheasants Forever.

A memorial service will be held on August 17th, 2024 at Windsor United Methodist Church, 6222 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM with a service at 11:00 AM and a luncheon thereafter. Larry has been cremated and his ashes will be laid to rest in his family plot at Wiley Cemetery in Colfax, Illinois.