April 17, 1941 – April 1, 2026
Larry Hicok, 84, of Rockford, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Charles City, Iowa.
Larry Lee Hicok was born April 17, 1941, at the Charles City Hospital in Charles City, Iowa. He lived on a farm outside of Charles City with his parents, Gerald and Georgie Hicok. Larry attended a one-room country schoolhouse until high school. He graduated from Charles City high school in 1959. He attended Iowa Teachers College, now the University of Northern Iowa, and graduated in 1963. While attending college, he met the love of his life, Sharon Thompson. They were united in marriage August 11, 1963, in Van Meter, Iowa on, as dad would tell us, the hottest day of the year.
Larry and Sharon spent a summer in Greeley, Colorado taking continuing education classes. Larry got his first teaching job at Rockford High School teaching business. Sharon also got a job teaching music at Rockford, and together they thought it would be a good start for a 2-3 year plan. They soon bought a 7-acre piece of land just north of Rockford and built the one and only house they would live in.
Larry would go on to get his arts and education master’s degree in 1969 in educational media. He would take on the role of elementary school principal in Rockford in 1970. Changes in the school district would have Larry at the helm of the other two elementary schools in Rudd and Marble Rock. He would travel daily between all three schools logging many miles in a red Chevrolet Chevette. In 1989 the high school in Rockford was mostly destroyed by a fire. Larry would play a significant role in the building of a new school that would bring all three elementary schools under one roof that would be shared with the new high school. He remained at the new school as elementary principal until his retirement in 2006. During his 43 years at Rudd Rockford Marble Rock School District, he had close to 2,000 students and countless teachers and staff that he enjoyed seeing every day and working closely with to ensure the kids got the best education possible.
Outside of his work, Larry enjoyed many hobbies and activities. For a short time, he raised livestock on his small farm acreage. He had sheep, cattle, a couple pigs, horses (Sheeba & Buckshot), ponies (Heidi & Lil Red), ducks and chickens. Growing up on a farm meant Larry had a love for tractors, especially the Fergusons. In addition to his beloved Ferguson tractors, he brought an Oliver 70 back to life. He loved working on his tractors and using them around the acreage.
Larry also loved hunting. He was an avid pheasant hunter and enjoyed many weekends hunting with his brothers and other family members at his parents’ farm in Nashua. He also looked forward to his yearly trip to southern Iowa to go pheasant and quail hunting with Bob Sinclair and Don Kornegor. Larry also loved to bow hunt for whitetail deer. The early mornings and late afternoons with Aalar Hirv and Denny Adams were some of his best memories even if they didn’t get a deer. His sons, as they became old enough, would join him in his love for hunting. It is important to mention his love for hunting dogs and dogs in general. His beloved German shorthairs, Max and Hans, his Brittany Spaniel, Brandy, and black lab, Muggsy were all excellent hunting dogs and great companions. Frosty, a Samoyed, was there for pure fluff and love.
As Larry’s boys became involved in scouts, Larry took on the role of scout den leader and parent volunteer. He took an active role in helping navigate many young men through their scouting experience, many of which attaining the highest rank, Eagle Scout. Larry was extremely proud of all three of his boys attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He was on the board at the Winnebago Scout Camp in Marble Rock. For his work with the Boy Scouts of America, Larry was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, the highest distinguished service award that a local council can bestow on a volunteer, recognizing noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth.
Among the many other activities and hobbies Larry enjoyed were gardening, conservation efforts, planting trees, Floyd County Board of Trustees, Floyd County Conservation Board, singing in the church choir and countless duets with Sharon for funerals and weddings, River City Chorus, volunteering at the Floyd County Fossil and Prairie Park, Lions Club, the Masons, teaching hunter safety, feeding and watching his birds, watching the deer wander through the front yard and making some of the best bread you’ve ever tried. In his retirement he and Sharon were able to make many “trips of a lifetime” taking them to many states throughout the US (Hawaii for their 50th anniversary), England, Scotland, Germany, Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Austria, Japan and South Korea.
Of all of Larry’s accomplishments and honors, the one he was most proud of was his family. He traveled thousands of miles to enjoy many concerts, events, activities, award presentations, and birthdays for his kids, daughters-in-law and grandchildren. If you asked him, and sometimes when you didn’t, he would have a story about one of his boys or their families.
Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Gerald and Georgie, sister, Geralynn, brothers-in-law, Ray and Larry, sister-in-law, Mary, daughter-in-law, Kathie, niece, Kimmie, and nephews, Jeremy and Wesley.
Larry is survived by his wife, Sharon Hicok; brother, Gaylen (Gloria) of Charles City, Iowa, sister, Audrey (Dan) of Nashua, Iowa, brother, Wayne (Carol) of Nashua, Iowa, sister-in-law, Susan of Van Meter, Iowa, sister-in-law, Betty (Hugh) of Adel, Iowa; three children: Kent of Dallas Center, Iowa, Kurt (Cyndi) of Eagan, Minnesota and Kevin (Bridie) of Sumter, South Carolina; seven grandchildren: Kaylah (Jordan) of Des Moines, Iowa, Kole (Tori) of Johnston, Iowa, Delaney (Avery) of Eagan, Minnesota, Ainslie of Eagan, Minnesota, Jon of Sumter, South Carolina, Moira of Sumter, South Carolina and Michael of Sumter, South Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.
A visitation will be held 4:30pm-7:30pm, Friday, May 1, 2026, at Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock (RRMR) school in Rockford, Iowa. Funeral services will be Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 10:30am at the Rockford United Methodist Church, Rockford, Iowa. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Rockford immediately following funeral services. Luncheon to follow cemetery services.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations made to the family will be used towards local community projects in his honor.
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