A Celebration of Life Service for Larry Lee Pierce, 86, of Lucas, Iowa, who passed away Friday, January 9, 2026 will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 17, 2026 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola.  A private family burial will be held in the Eicher Cemetery, Washington, Iowa.

Larry Pierce came from modest means and worked his way up through persistence, determination, and a willingness to keep going. Those early experiences shaped his belief in hard work and giving people a chance if they were willing to put in the effort.

Larry was a man who wore many hats: coach, teacher, landlord, mentor, and friend. Above all, he believed in people's potential. He had a way of looking past job titles or circumstances and focusing on whether someone was willing to show up and work. If you were, Larry was often willing to help you find a better path forward.

A tremendous athlete, Larry's natural talent and competitiveness stayed with him throughout his life. He still holds athletic records, a point of pride and a reflection of both his ability and his drive. Sports were not just something he did, but a lens through which he understood discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.

Exceptionally smart and able to talk about almost anything, Larry loved conversation. Whether it was a serious discussion or just shooting the shit, he enjoyed swapping stories, debating ideas, and sharing a laugh. His sense of humor and easygoing nature made it easy to spend time with him.

Larry was the kind of person you could call in a pinch. When something needed to be done or someone needed help, he often showed up, practical and ready to pitch in.

As a coach and teacher, Larry understood that his role went beyond the field or classroom. He valued effort, accountability, and learning through experience, and he wasn't afraid to be straightforward with people when it mattered.

Larry loved the outdoors, farm life, and fishing, especially for the time spent with friends and the connections made along the way. Socializing, storytelling, and being around people were things he genuinely enjoyed.

One of Larry's greatest joys was his children and grandchildren. He loved seeing life through his grandchildren's eyes, finding joy in their curiosity, and sharing laughter in simple, everyday moments.

Larry Pierce will be remembered for his intelligence, his humor, and his belief in hard work. His legacy lives on in his children and grandchildren, as well as the many lives he coached, taught, encouraged, and quietly helped along the way.

Larry is survived by his wife of 34 years Jeri Martin; daughters, Lisa Pierce Honer and Susan Pierce Casper; step-children, Jaime (Ben) Carpenter, Julie Pefferman and Austin Pefferman; grandchildren, Rachael Carpenter, Daniel (Abigail) Carpenter, Aaron Carpenter, Anna Carpenter, Madalyn Carpenter, Syrus Rouhani, Sofia Rouhani, Darius Rouhani and Hattie Pefferman.  He was preceded in death by his mother, Alma Pierce; six brothers and four sisters.

Memorials in memory of Larry may be given to Camp Appanoose in Plano, Iowa.