Larry Dee Melsheimer, 82, of Vincennes, passed away at 9:10 pm Monday September 19, 2022, at Gentle Care of Vincennes.
He was born August 14, 1940, in Elnora, Indiana to Arnold and Bethel (Kail) Melsheimer.
Larry attended Indiana State University where he obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education. He later earned a degree in Special Education from Indiana University. Larry taught school for five years. He opened Top Boy restaurant and owned Gulf and Marathon service stations in Vincennes. Anyone who knew Larry, knew he always had a pencil on his ear and a tape measurer on his belt. A licensed electrician, he worked for Ivers Construction and was very active in Habitat for Humanity in Knox County. He attended Free Methodist Church, where he participated in mission building trips to Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala. Larry was a member of the Hadi Shrine Temple where he enjoyed volunteering taking children to the Shriners Children’s Hospital. He was also a George Rogers Clark Volunteer member in 1976. After retirement, Larry took every art class (some twice) available through Vincennes University and found 3D art with welding and wood particularly rewarding. Some of his favorite hobbies included blacksmithing, entertaining/spoiling his grandchildren and great grandchildren, reading and attending car and motorcycle events. In September of 2016, Larry was a torch carrier in his Model A for the Indiana Bicentennial.
Surviving are his wife Rita (Stites) Melsheimer, whom he married November 22, 1961; his children, Jeff Melsheimer and his wife Debra of Bloomington, Tracy Melsheimer of New Orleans, and Melissa Dreiman of Vincennes; two brothers, Ivan Melsheimer of Texas, and Melvin (Joan) Melsheimer of Tennyson, Indiana; his grandchildren, Nicholas (Laura) Melsheimer, Whitney Dreiman, and Bailey Dreiman; along with his great grandchildren, Tessa Rupprecht, Nicholas and Hannah Melsheimer, and Leia Clark. Surviving nieces and nephews include Melanie, Jeannine, Mary Ann, Iva, Lori and Tim.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters Linda Greene, and Nina LaMar.
Visitation with Larry’s family will be held at 11:00 am Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at Vincennes Free Methodist Church, 1423 N. 4th St., Vincennes, IN with funeral services at 1:00 pm. Burial to follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements of Larry. Memorial donations may be made to the Indiana Military Museum and Vincennes Free Methodist Church.
