Larry William Kohlstaedt

After a courageous battle with COPD and congestive heart failure, Larry William Kohlstaedt, 81 of Wellington, Missouri passed away on Friday, January 12, 2024, surrounded by family.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at St. Luke Evangelical Free Church, 700 MO-224, Wellington, MO, 64097.  A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the church.  Interment will be in St. Luke Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Missouri Palliative & Hospice Care-Clinical Team.  Memories of Larry and condolences for his family may be left at www.LedfordFamilyFH.com or on our Facebook Page.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2^nd St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524.

Larry was born on March 21, 1942, in Wellington, MO to Fredrick Eldred and Lydia Ida (Huenefeld) Kohlstaedt.  He graduated in 1960 from Wellington High School in Wellington, MO.  On April 15, 1961, Larry married his high school sweetheart, Janice Lee Chaney at St. Luke Church in Wellington.  Larry was a lifelong farmer who loved his John Deere tractors and Shorthorn cattle. He worked a few years as a heavy machine operator and retired from Operator’s Union Local 101.  He served as president of the Missouri Shorthorn Association for nearly a decade.  Larry was voted Builder of the Breed by the American Shorthorn Association, named Missouri Shorthorn Association Breeder of the Year, and was recognized for Show Bull of the Year. In 2019, he was recognized as the American Royal National Shorthorn Show Honoree by the American Shorthorn Association. Larry attended Journey of Faith Ministries in Wellington, where he served as president of the church board for several years.  He is a member of St. Luke Evangelical Free Church in Wellington and had also served as president of the church council. In addition to spending time with family and friends, Larry enjoyed sports of all kinds.  He loved going to the Lake of the Ozarks and was quite the waterskier in his younger years.    

Larry is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Janice Kohlstaedt of Wellington, MO; three children, Kelly Renae (Jim) Butz of Blue Springs, MO, Larry Brian (Margaret) Kohlstaedt of Wellington, MO, and Kimberly Rae (Shane) Weedman of Wellington, MO; nine grandchildren, Tara (Matt) Klamm, Brianne (Joe) Wright, Seth (Olivia) Kohlstaedt, Kevin (Lindsey) Mathis, Krystal (Seth) Petsch, Garrett (Ashley) Butz, Trevor Butz, Morgan (Dalton) Lanpher, and Connor (Madi) Weedman; eleven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Phyllis Baker of Grain Valley, MO and Denise Kaullen of Odessa, MO; two brothers, Kenny (Bonnie) Kohlstaedt of Odessa, MO and Duane (Becky) Kohlstaedt of Cameron, MO; and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.   

In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by his father and mother-in-law, Bethel and Dee Deatherage; and a brother-in-law, Mike Kaullen as well as many close friends and neighbors.