Larry Dean Zagelow

Larry Dean Zagelow, age 82, passed away on Monday, December 5, 2022. Larry was born on June 9, 1940 in Odessa, WA to Hugo and Dorothy Zagelow. Larry was the oldest of 3 boys and was only 6 years old when they lost their father Hugo to an accident at the family country home. Larry’s Grandpa Schafer then built a home for the family in Odessa where Larry and his brothers were raised by their mother Dorothy.

Larry attended Odessa High School and was very active in athletics and agricultural activities. Larry played three sports and really excelled in football, earning the All Opponent Team and Bi-County Grand League in 1957. He was also a member of 4-H and raised steers. During the summer breaks, Larry worked farm related jobs and one summer worked for the Odessa Union painting grain elevators.

Larry graduated from Odessa High School in 1958. After high school he attended Wenatchee Junior College for two years before enlisting in the Army in 1961. He served active duty in the U.S. Army for two years and received the distinctions of Rifle Expert and Sharpshooter. It was also during this time when Larry met his future wife, June Dutko, while on leave to Virginia Beach, VA. Larry and June began a long-distance courtship, keeping in touch through letter writing.

After the Army, Larry finished his education at Central Washington University and while there took flying instruction to get his private pilot’s license. He obtained a B.A. in Business from CWU in June of 1965.

Shortly after his graduation from CWU, Larry flew himself to Ohio to pick up June and her sister. He flew the three of them to Colorado and Larry proposed to June on a hill overlooking the Denver lights. Larry and June were married a short time later in Columbus, Ohio on November 25, 1965.

Larry and June made their home north of Odessa where they owned and operated Zagelow Bar Z Ranches and raised their three children; Mike, Julie, and Jeff. As most farmers and ranchers do, Larry started each day with a cup of black coffee and ended each day watching the weather report to see how his next day on the farm would go.

Larry farmed until 1993 when he got his real estate license and started working with Century 21. Even though he gave up farming for real estate, he hung onto his life-long passion for cattle and continued to raise a small herd. He eventually got his Associate Broker License and raised a Century 21 shingle in downtown Odessa where he continued to sell real estate until 2015.

Larry lived a full life. He enjoyed flying his plane, working his cows, playing with his kids and grandkids, making people laugh, and creating memories with his family.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Hugo and Dorothy Zagelow, his foster daughter Pam Schafer Schooler, and his grandson Zachary Zagelow. Larry is survived by his wife of 57 years, June Zagelow of Odessa, WA; son Mike (and Laura) Zagelow of Janesville, WI; daughter Julie Zagelow of Medical Lake, WA; son Jeff (and Amber) Zagelow of Odessa, WA; and grandchildren Cole, Whitney, Dylan, Mackenzie, Kaitlyn (and Evvan), Justin, Ashley, Hugo, Libby, Lexie, and Ben. Larry is also survived by his uncle Jerry ‘Unc’ (and Ellen) Schafer of Odessa, WA; his two brothers Jim (and Juanita) Zagelow of Yakima, WA, and Dick (and Thirza) Zagelow of Bellingham, WA, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 13, 2023 at the Heritage Church, 302 S First Ave, Odessa, WA. There will be a viewing at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon reception.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stratefuneralhome.com for the Zagelow family. Strate Funeral Home, Davenport is caring for the family.