Larry Roger Liedtke passed away suddenly on Feb. 17, 2018 during an annual family reunion in Hermiston, surrounded by family.
He was born on June 20, 1949 in Albany, Calif. to Roger and Margaret Thorp Liedtke.
The family moved to Hermiston when Larry was a baby, the middle child of three siblings. As a child, he was active in Boy Scouts, growing up on Lathrop Street in the house his parents built.
In Hermiston Larry worked at Safeway, hauled watermelons and bucked alfalfa. He played for Hermiston High School’s tennis team, graduating in 1967. Larry’s mother later married Walter Liebe. After high school he met (Martha) Jill Schmidt, whose family had recently moved from Heppner; the two were inseparable for the next 50 years. They attended Blue Mountain Community College their freshman year, then transferred to the University of Oregon, where Larry earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in education.
The couple married in 1970 and moved to Germany. After returning to Oregon, Larry worked each summer with the U.S. Forest Service. He taught at the University of Oregon for three years before becoming a middle school teacher in Eugene, where he remained for almost three decades.
After Larry and Jill retired, they spent four years teaching in Taiwan and two years teaching in South Korea. Larry positively impacted thousands of lives and was adored by students and peers for his humor, jack-of-all-trades talents, upbeat personality and willingness to help wherever needed.
Larry was an avid sailor and aspired to someday sail around the world. An accomplished scuba diver, he volunteered at the Oregon Coast Aquarium cleaning tanks, and he traveled to many countries but always returned home to Hermiston at least once a year. He was an enormous University of Oregon fan, a carpenter and a voracious reader, and he loved classic films and history. He enjoyed tennis and outdoor activities and always had numerous projects in various stages of completion. Larry loved being goofy with kids and taking friends on sailing or diving trips, and he endeared himself to nearly everyone who ever met him. Most of all, he was a proud father, devoted husband and loyal friend.
He is survived by his wife, Jill; sons, Pete and Kurt; daughter, Heidi; son-in-law, Mark Scharen; daughter-in-law, Emily (McConnell) Liedtke; brother, Terry; sister, Pat Duvall; stepfather, Walt Liebe; grandchildren, Evie and Mady Liedtke; and many extended family and friends who adored him.
There will be a private family celebration.
Burns Mortuary of Hermiston is in care of arrangements.
