Larry Wassam

Larry Theodore Wassam, 80 of Higginsville, Missouri passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at Lafayette Regional Health Center in Lexington, Missouri. He was born Thursday, April 4, 1940 in Yoder, Colorado and was the son of the late Christy Wassam and the late Frances (Borgess) Wassam. He was the husband of the late Jo Ann (Bradley) Wassam, she preceded him in death on August 17, 2006. They were married 47 wonderful years. Larry attended grade school in Yoder until his family moved to Calhoun, Missouri where he graduated high school in 1958. After high school he attended an auto mechanics trade school in Kansas City, Missouri. He and Jo Ann married in 1959 and moved to Higginsville to start their lives together. He worked for Bush & Erdman - Allis Chalmers Implement as a tractor mechanic before moving his career to factory and line maintenance. In 1990 he started with Higginsville Habilitation Center in the maintenance department, working until his retirement in 2002. Larry was known for always having many projects to work on. He was passionate about saving old engines and equipment, then using parts from other broke down engines to restore others. He took great pride in what he had fixed and like to tell stories of different projects' journey to restoration. Larry loved fishing, coin collecting, arrowhead hunting and enjoyed raising farm animals. He enjoyed going on camping trips and traveling to see his family in other states. Family was very important to him. Larry will be remembered as a devoted father to his daughters, a loving grandpa to his grandchildren, and the "Favorite Uncle" to all his nieces and nephews. Larry was a loving, caring man that will be truly missed by everyone blessed to have known him. Surviving are his good friend and companion, Freda Simpson of Higginsville; three daughters, Penny (Dave) Hemme of Emma, MO, Pam (Mark) Allen of Blue Springs, MO and Brenda Wassam (Randy Webster) of Higginsville; one brother, Jerry (Nancy) Wassam of Elkland, MO; one sister, Daisy Wassam of Fredonia, KS; seven grandchildren, Austin Hemme, Caleb Hemme, Nathan Guinn, Kelsey (Austin) Hardy, Tristan Webster, Jenna (Trevor) Maiseroulle, Nicole Duesi; and one great-grandchild, Jaxon Maiseroulle. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jo Ann Wassam; two daughters, Debbie Duesi and Rhonda Wassam; one brother, Charles Wassam; one sister, Lavaun "Sis" Pittman. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in the multi-purpose building at First Baptist Church in Higginsville with Rev. Dr. Greg Fine officiating. Interment will follow in the Higginsville City Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 1PM. Casket bearers: Austin Hemme, Caleb Hemme, Nathan Guinn, Austin Hardy, Tristan Webster, Trevor Maiseroulle. The family has asked to make memorial contributions to family choice and they will contribute them to a charitable organization as Larry would want. Because of the current health conditions, masks and social distancing are highly encouraged.

Larry Wassam

April 4, 1940 - September 22, 2020