Larry Kieffer

Lawrence William “Larry” Kieffer, 92, of Cedar Falls, died on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Western Home Communities Deery Suites. He was born on January 2, 1934, in Winona, Minnesota, the son of Lawrence and Margaret (Gonderzik) Kieffer. He grew up in the village of Elba in the Whitewater Valley, the Paradise of Minnesota. He attended a two-room school in Elba through the seventh grade then graduated from St. Charles Public High School in 1951. He then attended the College of St. Thomas for two years before transferring to the University of Minnesota where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree. On September 17, 1955, he was united in marriage to Esther Mae Sasse at St. Francis Catholic Church in Rochester, MN. He worked as a reference librarian for the University of Minnesota, California State University, Sacramento; the University of Nebraska, Lincoln; and the University of Northern Iowa, where he retired. After retirement, Larry served as a volunteer for the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Literacy Program of Hawkeye Community College. In his spare time, he enjoyed reading and collecting books, woodworking, and baking bread. Larry is survived by his wife of 70 years, Esther; five children, Peter (Lu Anne Pierce) Kieffer of Waterloo, Timothy Kieffer of Iowa City, Jonathan (Carin Hughes) Kieffer of Dallas, TX, Sarah (Larry) Jewell of Iowa City, and Benjamin (Angelika) Kieffer of Iowa City; grandchildren, Tara Kieffer, Jeremy Kieffer, Alicia Kieffer, Daria Marcantonio Kieffer, Nicholas Kieffer Jewell, Sawyer Kieffer, Alexander Kieffer Jewell, William Kieffer Jewell, and Liam Kieffer; great grandchildren, Ezekiel Kieffer, Ethan Hall, Dylan Kieffer, Sofia Hall, Leo Kieffer, Ramona Mae Kieffer; and great-great grandchild, Avery Lynn Kieffer. Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2026, at Richardson Funeral Service in Cedar Falls with visitation one hour prior. Burial and graveside services will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 9th at St. Aloysius Cemetery in Elba, MN. Memorials may be directed to the Cedar Falls Public Library.

Larry Kieffer

January 2, 1934 - May 4, 2026