Lawrence "Larry" James Stanislav

     Lawrence “Larry” James Stanislav, the son of Joseph and Emma (Divis) Stanislav was born April 13, 1933, the second youngest of 5 children, near Blencoe, IA, where he attended school and graduated from Blencoe High School in 1951.

     Larry was raised an Iowa farm boy, his parents having moved from their Czech community in Nebraska to start a farm in the Blencoe area. It was here the foundations were laid for Larry’s devotion to family and life of service. He shouldered heavy responsibility at an especially young age after Emma’s tragic passing when Larry was only 9 years old. When his older brother departed for World War II, Larry was left as the only boy to help Joseph with the farm as his sisters managed the household and raising of his younger sister, Rosemary. If Larry was, as a child, like the adult he later became, he took these burdens in stride, selflessly and faithfully.

     Following High School, Larry enlisted in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Washington DC and served until his Honorable Discharge in 1956. It was in DC that Larry met and married the woman to whom he would devote his life for the next 55 years, Nancy Nuice of Sandy Hook, MD. They were married on January 14, 1956 and moved to Spencer, IA in 1959 where he served on the Iowa State Patrol from 1959 to 1988. He was elected Sheriff of Clay County in 1988 and served in that position until his retirement in 2000.

      Larry and Nancy built a family in Spencer and became fixtures in the community. Larry’s mild manners were the perfect complement to Nancy’s exuberance and passion for life. He loved her deeply, and it was apparent to everyone who knew them.

Generally speaking, he was a man of few words, his quiet confidence belied only by his undeniable sense of humor and compassion for others. His children remember him as firm but fair, never raising his voice, allowing leniency when able, but always standing his ground. Even former inmates of the county jail from when Larry was sheriff, remember him as a good man, indeed writing letters to thank him for treating them decently while incarcerated. He believed in and taught his children the importance of accountability, of saying your prayers nightly, and to never take yourself too seriously.

      Among his favorite hobbies included golf, travel, making his famous “bourbon balls” for the holidays, and accompanying Nancy on her endless “antiquing” runs. Larry was an active member of the LaDanza Club, Moose Lodge, American Legion, Knights of Columbus (50 years) and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. A foundational community leader in Clay County, it’s fair to say that Larry helped mold Spencer into the city it is today.

Larry passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at Ruthven Care Center at the age of 90. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Nancy, and siblings Earnest, Adeline, Helen and Rosemary.

      Left to cherish his memory are his 3 children, Ronette (Mike) Schumann of Richmond, KY, Ronda (Mike) Froehle of Cedar Falls, IA, and Gregg (Kim) Stanislav of Spencer, IA; 8 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and many friends.