It takes a combination of leadership, cooperation and a servant mindset to leave a lasting legacy on one’s community. Larry Barth embodied all three, and he did just that.
Larry Roland Barth was born to Roland and Opal (Morris) Barth on Nov. 16, 1935, near Beaver Crossing. He was the oldest of three boys, growing up on the family farm south of Utica. He graduated from Utica High School in 1953. On Aug.16, 1958, he married Barbara Schiefelbein. Their first daughter, Debra, was born shortly after.
Larry lived his life in service to others. He joined the military on Aug. 27, 1958, and specialized in medical recordkeeping and carpentry as a soldier in the U.S. Army, stationed in Lawton, Oklahoma, where their son, Bradley, was born in 1960. Larry was discharged from active service in the Army on Aug. 26, 1960, and the family moved back to Nebraska, where daughter Carol was born. He built their home in Lincoln, complete with a playhouse in the backyard, and worked for Caterpillar, where he nurtured his lifelong love of big yellow CATs.
The family eventually settled back in Utica, where he worked for various companies as a heavy equipment operator before starting his own company, Barth Construction, that he ran for more than 35 years. Later, he worked for the Village of Utica, helping with maintenance, mowing and snow plowing.
His service to the community continued as he held a seat on the Village Board for 36 years, at times chairing the board and running a successful write-in campaign for his final term. Larry helped lead the paving of village streets, the building of the water tower and water treatment plant, and countless other projects to enhance the community. Larry and Barb held membership in the Utica United Methodist Church for more than five decades. He served on the church board of trustees and chaired its administrative council, also giving his time to mow the church lawn each week.
Larry was named the Seward County Community Service Award winner in 2009, and the Barth family, including Larry, his parents, brothers, their wives and children, were honored as the Heritage Family for Utica Heritage Days in 2014.
As an active and later reserve member of the Utica Volunteer Fire Department, Larry responded to countless fire and rescue calls as a truck foreman, rescue foreman, and former president of the UVFD. The department presented him with his 60-year membership certificate in September 2024. His favorite way to spend a day was in his wood shop, building furniture for their home or detailed wooden replicas of heavy machinery. Each Christmas brought handcrafted wooden gifts built especially for his children and grandchildren. Larry passed away Dec. 1, 2024, at age 89.
He leaves on earth his wife of 66 years, Barbara; daughter, Debra (Rick) Hemphill of Utica; son, Bradley (Karen) Barth of Utica, and daughter, Carol (Bryan) Conway of Lincoln; grandchildren, Mandy (Jimmy) Doherty of Omaha, Emily Hemphill (Layne Dahlquist) of Seward, Taylor (Brady) Miller of Waverly, Tanner (Kelsie) Barth of Gibbon, Brett (Brandi) Conway of Waverly, and Shannon Conway of Lincoln; great-grandchildren, Reagan Doherty, Noah Doherty, Isla Johnson, J. Izyk Dahlquist, Banks Miller, Teagyn Barth and Madi Conway; brother, Duane (Vonie) Barth of Utica; and brother, Rodney (Paulette) Barth of Seward; as well as many other relatives, friends and coffee buddies.
Visitation will be Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 5 – 8 p.m. at Volzke Funeral Home with a gathering of family and friends from 6:30 – 8 p.m. The funeral service will be Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Utica with committal at the Utica Cemetery. Arrangements by Volzke Funeral Home.
