Larry Virgil Herker, age 86, of Muncie, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 9th, 2025 surrounded by his family.
Born in Huron, South Dakota, on December 1st, 1938 to Virgil and Vera Herker, Larry was a graduate of Mitchell High School, Mitchell, South Dakota, in 1956 and Dakota Wesleyan University in 1960.
In 1961, Larry was commissioned as a Naval Aviator for the US Navy, serving with commissions including the Airborne Early Warning Squadron (AEWRON 11) in the Atlantic Barrier Reef, the VW4 Hurricane Hunters, and providing flight support for the Blue Angels flight support team. His Naval service included posts in Argentina, Newfoundland, Jacksonville, Florida and Memphis, TN and ended with an honorable discharge at the rank of Lieutenant.
Post his military service Larry served as a pilot for Blissfield Manufacturing Company in Blissfield, Michigan. This led to a 40-year career as a Sales and Marketing Executive for Blissfield and various companies in Michigan, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. In 2000 Larry came to Muncie, Indiana to serve as Vice President of Marketing at Sherry Laboratories (Element).
Larry pursued various hobbies over the years including a love of painting, exercising with his close friends at the Cardiac Pulmonary Rehab Therapy group at Ball Memorial Hospital, and was an avid fan of the Ball State Women’s Basketball Team. Larry’s greatest joy in life was spending quality time with his family.
Larry is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Glenna (Johnson) Herker, his son Gregory Herker of Wind Lake, Wisconsin and his wife Mary Herker, his son Steven Herker of Indianapolis, Indiana and granddaughter Grace (Herker) Bucher and her husband Richard Bucher.
Services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at High Street United Methodist Church in Muncie, Indiana with Rev. Terri Crouse officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by The United States Navy and the Veterans of Delaware County. Private family internment will take place at Mount Hope Cemetery in Frankfort, South Dakota.
Family and friends may call from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 14, 2025 at The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory, Washington Street Chapel.
Larry was a long-time member of the United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the High Street United Methodist Church in Muncie, Indiana.
Special thanks to the many friends providing support during his final journey and the caring staff of Morrison Woods Health Campus and Heart to Heart Hospice in Muncie.
Arrangements in Indiana have been entrusted to The Meeks Mortuary and Crematory (www.meeksmortuary.com) of Muncie, Indiana, and in South Dakota to Hyke Funeral Home (www.hykefuneralhome.com) of Redfield, South Dakota.
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