Lawrence ‘Larry’ Kloeppel

Lawrence “Larry” Kloeppel, 90, of Joplin, Mo., passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020, at Wildwood Senior Living in Joplin.

Larry was born on June 25, 1930, in Hitchcock to John I. and Hilda A. (Strack) Kloeppel.

Larry married “Bert” Oct. 25, 1952, in Oklahoma City. Together, they shared 58 years of marriage before she preceded him in death on Feb. 24, 2011.

Larry was proud of his career in the trucking industry.

He was vice president of Midwestern Distribution in Ft. Scott, Kan., in the 1960s and early 1970s helping to grow it to a sizable truck line for the times.

In 1976, he and Bert moved to Joplin and purchased Mon-Kem Co. (MCI) and operated it successfully until he sold it to become part of Burlington Motor Carriers.

In 1988, he started Transport Distribution Company (TDC) with his family involved and the family still runs it today.

In addition to his parents and wife, Larry was preceded in death by his sisters Anna Greying, Irene Cole, Lucille Sund and Louise Gruntmeir.

Larry is survived by his two daughters, Jean Kloeppel-Reed and husband Gary of Joplin and Joan Stephens and husband, Regan of Joplin; grandchildren Jamie Kay Reed, Carson Stephens, Jon Reed, Jae Gosney, Miller Stephens and Fisher Stephens; brothers, Joe Kloeppel and Albert Kloeppel, both of Kingfisher.

All services willbe private, family only.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Joplin Area Catholic Schools-Booster Club in Joplin, Mo., in care of the mortuary.

Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary.