About Larry

From the Kids
Sandy, Shannon, Chris, Kari, Jeremy, and Kim 

Our Dad, Larry Wardenburg, was born in St. Louis, Missouri on 5/1/1946 ... we think he's the greatest guy on the planet! He attended Ritenour Senior High in St. Louis and served in the United States Air Force from 1964 – 1968.

He moved to the Lake of the Ozarks in 1972 and has been a resident in this great community every since. He started with Lodge of the Four Seasons in 1973 as Executive Housekeeper, worked with Susan Brown during the Atrium addition then promoted to Rooms Division Manager. He says he has very fond memories of those years at the Lodge. He left the lodge in 1984 to try new things ... he received his Real Estate Brokers license, and managed several vacation rental programs including his own.

In 1989 he opened his own company (Lifestyle Properties) managing privately owned vacation rental homes and condominiums, soon to full fledged Real Estate with his wife Connie. He purchased his own building in 1994 and shortly after purchased a J.C. Nichols franchise (largest residential REALTOR in the greater Kansas City area). A few years later J.C. Nichols and J.D. Reese merged and they became Reece & Nichols Lake Ozark Real Estate. During these years, Dad and Connie worked tirelessly in the Lake community ... not only for their business, but to give back to local charities and causes.

In 2008 with the Real Estate market showing signs of decline he had to sell his building and lease it back, then in 2010 he had to sell the business.

Unfortunately, in August of 2010, Dad had some health issues which ultimately led to the discovery of a Carcinoid Tumor. This has caused many Doctor and Hospital visits and expenses not planned for.

It looks like the next step in this situation is going to be treatment for his carcinoid tumor in Basel, Switzerland. He is still waiting to be scheduled for treatment and is working hard to figure out a way to pay for the treatment. Of course, medicare and insurance won't cover it ... this is the reason we created this blog. All of the kids are working to find a way to make this important life-extending treatment happen for him. We want him around for many more years ... and his 7 grandchildren need more time with him ... he lives for them!

When we asked him what he loves most about his life, he said:
"I am blessed & proud to have 4 Children, 2 step Children, and 7 Grandchildren all of whom could not be better. We all go camping together, Christmas together, and share a common family bond that is far beyond that of any family that I know." 

It's true too ... he cherishes the times when the entire family is together like nothing else. He's the kind of guy that tears up when he sees a Hallmark commercial. All of his grandchildren call him "grumpy" ... not because he's grumpy at all ... but because he looks like "Grumpy" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!