Larry E. “Hawk” Elvebak, age 86, of Blue Earth, formerly of Kiester, MN died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center in Blue Earth, with family by his side. Visitation will be held at Nasinec Funeral Home (789 Business Park Drive, Wells, MN 56097) from 2:00-5:00 PM Sunday, Sept. 15 2024. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the funeral at the funeral home on Monday (10:00 am-11:00 am). Funeral Services will be held on Monday, Sept 16. at 11:00 AM at Nasinec Funeral Home in Wells. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, rural Kiester; Eden Twp., Winnebago Co., Iowa, with Military Honors by the Kiester American Legion Post.
Larry Ennis was born Sept. 15, 1937 the son of Leonard and Edith (Flugum) Elvebak in Eden Township, Winnebago County, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, rural Kiester where he was a longtime faithful member. Larry graduated from Kiester High School, the class of 1955. He entered the US Air Force in 1956 and was honorably discharged in 1960. He was united in marriage to Clarine Buendorf on June 4, 1957 in Kiester.
He worked for various farmers after the military. He co-owned “Rods 66” with his brother Rodney from 1965-1984. The also had a Chrysler-Plymouth-Dodge dealership for a few years. Larry drove school bus from 1966-2001 for USC. He loved mowing lawns and cemeteries for many years, including Trinity Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest. He delivered Minneapolis Star/Tribune newspapers for 10 years, as his children delivered the paper the first 20 years. (His children started work delivering the paper and he kept at it long after they left the house).
Larry was a lifetime member of the Kiester Civic and Commerce, Council member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and served on the Kiester School Board. As many people know, he was also the town “Birthday Greeter”.
Hawk LOVED sports. He was a HUGE Iowa Hawkeye fan! He was a long-time, faithful supporter of USC High School and College sporting events.
He is preceded in death by his parents; parents in- law; brothers: Donnie and Rodney; sisters in-law: Shirley Elvebak, Mary Elvebak, Bonnie Hochreiter and Vernita Buendorf; brother in-law Clifford Buendorf; son in-law Gary Wigern; and nephew Ron Elvebak.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years Clarine; children: Marcus (Stacey) Elvebak, Larry Gubbs (Vanessa) Elvebak, Brenda (Pete) Seys, Tammy Wigern, Mitchell (Melonie) Elvebak, Penny Elvebak, and Joni (Jeff) Henrikson; brother Merald Elvebak; sister in-law Julie Elvebak; 18 grandchildren: Justin (Sandra) Elvebak, Tiffany (Ryan) Schrader, Chelsey Kauffmann, Masyn Elvebak, Ethan Elvebak, Gavyn Elvebak; Theo Elvebak; Shawna (Justin) Mack, Samantha (Mike) Vogel, Stuart (Adri) Seys; Andy (Christina) Wigern, Ben Wigern; Lyndy Elvebak, Abby Elvebak; Haley Engeseth, Jake Engeseth; Marisa Henrikson, Jeffrey Henrikson; 12 great-grandchildren: Parker and Mia Elvebak; Riley, Bentley and Colby Schrader; Alonna Silverthorn and Asher Kauffmann; Lorelai and Alex Mack; Aurora and Ariya Wigern; Maelynn Johnson.
The Hawk loved watching the Iowa Hawkeyes, any kind of sports, being outside, reading, going to sporting events, laughing at the grandkids, going “up the hill” or “down the hill”, visiting with people whether he knew them or not and oh yeah, the Iowa Hawkeyes!
My condolences to you all. I will always remember Hawk for being on the chain gang at the Kiester-Walters Bulldogs and South Central Warrior football games. He would always be wearing shorts and t-shirt even when the rest of us thought it was cold. RIP Larry “HAWK”. Although I am a Gophers fan… “GO HAWKS”.
So sorry to hear of Larry’s passing I always enjoyed him when he was at Parkview Care Center he was fun and enjoyed his Hawkeyes he will be missed by all that new him RIP dear friend my sympathy to the whole family
Hawk was the best roll model for kids on the bus. I don’t believe he had much if any problems on his bus routes. Kids respected him because he cared. At least mine did. He was the one to turn the lights on in the park for the Christmas displays at night. Then turned them off in the morning on his way to the school bus garage.
Now you can watch the HAWKS play at Kinick Statadum with the best seat.
RIP fellow Hakeye fan. GO HAWKEYES 🖤 💛
So many memories. Babysitting. Dad working at the station. Huckleybuck at the house. Demolition derby. Shorts and a t shirt in winter. #1 Bulldog, Warrior, Rebel fan. Bus driver. Hawkeye fan through and through. Birthday greetings in the newspaper he delivered to my house. May his memory be a blessing!
I believe he was mislabeled as “The Hawk”. He should have been called “The Bulldog”. There was no bigger supporter of Bulldog students, sports or activities than Larry. On the bus, stage, field, court, mat, track or street he was always the most true-blue, enthusiastic and encouraging fan. Thank you Larry! Go Bulldogs!
My deepest condolences to Hawks family.🙏❤️. May he rest in peace.❤️
Our sympathies to the Elvebak families.
Larry was a a pillar of the Kiester community. He will be remembered for many things including his school bus -#6 and his famous “two thumbs up” wave he greeted everyone with while he was driving that bus!! Hugs to all of you!
Thank you for getting us to school safely for many years, Big Lare. ❤️ (aka “The Fonz”)
The Halvorsens
Hawk will be missed so much! I loved to hear him and dad BS about the old days. When dad was sick he visited alot of days. Hope they are having a good time in heaven. You have my condolences 🙏🏼
Prayers and condolences to the entire family, Larry will be missed. Always had a smile for everyone.
My sincere condolences to the family. He always had a kind word for anyone and everyone. Great guy and pillar of Kiester for many years.
You are all nestled gently in my thoughts.
My condolence to the Family. Larry was great person and will be greatly missed. Another one of the Eden boys.
With deepest sympathy to the Elvebak family with Larry’s passing. The Elvebaks were across the backyard neighbors of the Sauke family. I babysat for Larry and Clarine for many years. I also mowed their lawn when they were on vacation. Along with his Iowa Hawkeyes t-shirts he also had t-shirts reading 100 % Norwegian. Larry “Hawk” Elvebak was a great neighbor. May he rest in peace. 🙏
🖤💛 R I P Hawk 🖤💛
What a great, amazing man! Always had a smile and kind words for everyone! So sorry for your loss! Love to all!
Thoughts and prayers to the family.
A true original and Go Hawks!
He was my second boss at Rods 66 in 1966 before I left for the Navy