Larry Jouben

RICHFIELD SPRINGS - Larry Jouben went to God on Monday, February 26th, after a battle with cancer.  He passed in his home with his wife of 60 Years, Diane, and his son Michael at his bedside.  Larry was born in the Blizzard of '37 on March 26th, at the family farm in Van Hornesville NY.  His father Paul brought Larry and his twin sister Lorraine into this world while stranded by deep snow in their house.  Three days later, when the roads had been cleared, the twins were transported by ambulance to Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown NY.  Larry was a proud graduate of Vanhornesville Central School, Class of 1956.  Following graduation, he entered the United States Marine Corp, completing his service to his country in 1960.  Larry began employment with Allied Chemical Corp, Barrett Division of R&D, operating from Morristown NJ.  In those years he traveled back to Central New York regularly on the weekends to see his brother and sisters and be an Uncle to his 17 nieces and nephews.  He often marched them like Marines during his visits, wearing his Drill Sergeant hat to make it official.  During this time he met his wife, Diane Szeliga, through his twin sister and her husband, Walter.  Diane and Larry were married on October 3, 1964, relocating to Chicago Illinois to begin their journey together.  While in Illinois, they bought a two bedroom house in Rockford Illinois to start a family and find Larry's calling in life, to be an insurance agent serving the customers that he would grow to love.  He excelled in the field of insurance and won multiple roundtable salesman of the year awards during his time with Prudential.  Larry and Diane returned to Central New York to settle near family in Richfield Springs with their two children, Lisa and Michael, buying a local independent insurance agency from Bud Ames, Fred R. Ames and Son Insurance on Church Street, where they operated their business from 1972 until 2018.  In 2018, Larry found a kindred spirit in Tom Cole and sold his business to Gates Cole Insurance where he stayed involved for 12 months to assure his valued customers were given the service they deserved.

Larry was a 50 year member of the Herkimer Elks Lodge, BPOE 1439, attending through the years with his band of buddies.  That same group of buddies regularly went on their Ski-doo rides during weeknights in those snowy days of the 70's, breaking down and towing each other home.  Larry had some regular stops in his daily drives to "get out of the office", always including a stop at Bee Line Farm to see his best buddy, Walter Guzik and his twin sister Lorraine.  Many of you will remember Larry for his travels around town, visiting his clients, often being found at Chuck's Towing to discuss the matters of the world.  He enjoyed the visits from his customers, coming to the office that was located at the Church St residence.  Larry gave everyone his time, having consultative talks and providing the advice he loved to share that was born from his values. Fred R Ames Insurance took pride in serving the community, insuring the High School, the Town, the Village and surrounding schools and municipalities.  He was a member of the Bank Board for Norstar Bank, Fleet Bank, and Bank of America.  He was active in his Church, Saint Joseph the Worker, in Richfield Springs, serving as a Trustee and Financial Chairman.  He enjoyed his work at the St. Joseph's Cemetery where he plotted the location of the burial lots for those who were in that stage of life planning.  He took notice of the condition of the cemetery, coordinating the upkeep of the property.  Larry was the facilitator of the Spring Park Town Clock rehabilitation, providing the funding for the inner works of the clock to bring all four faces to operate off of one mechanism so that the four clock faces would display matching time.  He also tinkered with many of the clocks and watches from his customers and friends, making old time pieces run again.  In his retirement, Larry looked forward to the visits from his grandsons, mowing together, tinkering in the barn on a project or two, and taking an interest in their hobbies.

Larry is survived by his beloved wife Diane, daughter Dr. Lisa Currie (Iain), son Michael Jouben (Kristi) and two grandsons, Jacob and Jared Jouben.  He loved to share Jouben history with many nieces and nephews and in-laws that survive him in death.  He is pre-deceased by his father Paul and mother Mary, brother Paul Jr, sister Marian, sister Janice and sister Lorraine.  Larry wished to leave this life with little fanfare.  To honor that wish, no calling hours will be held.  The community and Larry's friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph the Worker, 35 CanadaragoStreet, Richfield Springs NY at 11:15AM on Tuesday March 5, 2024.  A reception will be held following mass for friends and family.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a charitable donation to Helios Hospice of Otsego County, 297 River Street, Oneonta, St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church PO Box 291,Richfield Springs, or The Richfield Springs Fire Department EMT Squad PO Box 1456, Richfield Springs, who were so gracious in their help during Larry's illness.

Funeral arrangements are with J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home, Richfield Springs.