Larry John Raid (86) of Denmark, Iowa, died peacefully at home January 9, 2026 after surviving 10 years with dementia.Larry was born March 18, 1939 in Fairfield, Iowa the son of Arlo J. and Leontina D. (Schlecht) Raid. On May 28,1966 he married Mary Elizabeth Petsche at St. Alphonsus Church in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.
Larry graduated from Denmark Academy High School in 1957. He then attended Bluffton College in Ohio for two years and was inducted into their football Hall of Fame as “Rocky.” In 1962 he graduated from Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (Truman State University) with a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Education. After graduation he returned to Denmark to found Pry Plastics Incorporated.
On the night of July 17, 1964, by a stroke of luck, Larry met Louis Armstrong, and by a stroke of fate, he also met his future wife Mary Petsche. Together, Mary and Larry built their family and community in Denmark. Larry served as volunteer fireman, coached softball and little league, and operated Pry Plastics for 55 years. He and Mary traveled with their children across the United States teaching them about the world. Larry found no greater joy than helping others discover and learn.
Larry led a big life. Owning a short line railroad, patenting a cap rack, collecting and showing antique gas engines, and establishing Linotype University, an annual pilgrimage for printers from around the world, there was not a person or machine he would not befriend. His impact on this earth will be forever felt from the thousands of bookmarks he printed, the hand he was always willing to lend, and for the cards he would endlessly play with his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; his children, Michelle (Barry) Tuller, John (Linda) Raid, Laura (Chad) Witthoeft; his grandchildren, Zachary (Christine Isaguirre) and Rachel Tuller, Ethan and Jenna Raid, Elizabeth, Anna and, David Witthoeft; one sister, Kay Gingrich; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Petsche and Janet (Tom) Erickson.
He was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers-in-law, Marvin Gingrich and Eugene, Donald, William and Neil Petsche; two nephews, Troy and Tod Gingrich.
Visitation will begin at 11:30 am, Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at Barr Memorial Chapel, Ft. Madison, Iowa, with funeral services following at 1:30 pm at the funeral home. Burial will be at Denmark Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Midwest Old Threshers Foundation and Denmark Academy Fund.
The Raid Family would like to thank Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice. A special thanks to Phyllis Hinds, RN, for her care of Larry.Barr Memorial Chapel is honored to serve the Raid family and an online guest book may be found at www.barrmemorialchapel.com.
