NEW HAMPTON — Larry Straw, a longtime New Hampton businessman, educator and wrestling coach who helped shape generations of athletes and became a keeper of the Chickasaws’ wrestling history, died Wednesday, July 8, 2026. He was 85.
Straw passed away peacefully at New Hampton Nursing and Rehab Center.
Born Sept. 7, 1940, in New Hampton to Orville and Wilma Straw, he grew up with a deep attachment to sports, family and his hometown community.
According to his obituary, Straw married Lois in 1960, beginning a marriage that lasted more than six decades. The couple raised two daughters, Tammy and Tracy.
After their marriage, Larry and Lois lived in Waterloo before moving to Mount Vernon, where he worked in education during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Straw served as a physical education teacher and head wrestling coach at Mount Vernon High School, mentoring young athletes and emphasizing discipline, hard work and confidence.
In 1978, the Straws returned to New Hampton and entered the insurance business with Carney/Schnurr/Carney Insurance Agency. They eventually became owners of the agency, which became Carney/Straw Insurance.
Wrestling, however, remained one of the defining passions of Straw’s life.
In the late 1990s, he returned to coaching as head wrestling coach for his alma mater, the New Hampton Chickasaws. During his four seasons leading the program, Straw helped guide New Hampton to a runner-up finish at the Iowa High School State Wrestling Tournament in his final season.
That same year, he was named Class 2A Coach of the Year by the Iowa Coaches and Officials Association.
His influence continued long after he stepped away from coaching.
According to his obituary, Straw maintained close ties with former wrestlers and remembered their names, matches and accomplishments for years afterward. He also became an unofficial historian and statistician for the New Hampton wrestling program, carefully maintaining records dating back to 1933 and helping preserve the program’s history for future generations.
Outside wrestling, Straw enjoyed friendships built through a longtime Wednesday night poker game and summer days on the golf course. He also celebrated a hole-in-one during his years playing golf and treasured fishing trips with his father.
Family remained central to his life. Straw shared a particularly close bond with his brothers, Tom “Gooter” Straw and William “Bill” Straw, and was a devoted supporter of Iowa Hawkeye and University of Northern Iowa athletics.
His obituary describes a man who placed great value on relationships and had a gift for remembering people, their achievements and the stories they shared with him. His impact reached former students, wrestlers, insurance customers, friends and members of the New Hampton community.
Straw is survived by his daughters, Tammy Straw of Tampa, Florida, and Tracy Straw of Euclid, Ohio; sister-in-law Connie Straw of Carville; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lois, who died in 2023; and his brothers, Tom “Gooter” Straw and William “Bill” Straw.
Friends greeted the family from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, July 16, 2026, at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Inurnment followed at New Hampton City Cemetery, with Brian Straw, Mitch Straw and Tony Straw serving as urnbearers.
A celebration of life with food and drinks followed at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to S.N.A.P. of Chickasaw County.
Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
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