David Ralph Larabee

David Ralph Larabee, 69, of Peoria, Ariz. passed away in his home on July 31, 2020.

A memorial service be will be held at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, September 26, 2020, at Torman Funeral Home with Pastor Ken Foster officiating. Interment will follow in Wyoming Township Cemetery in Paw Paw where he’ll be laid to rest next to his wife, Deborah

David was born March 26, 1951 in Rochelle to father, Ralph and Betty (Kettley) Larabee. He married Deborah Lynn Ikeler, his high school sweetheart, on Aug. 16, 1969. She preceded him in death.

Survivors include two daughters, Anissa (John) Grbcich and Nicole (Scott) Ulm; seven grandsons, Jordan, Holden, Brodie, Austin, Dane, Trystan and Creedon; and two sisters, Shirley (John) Lage and Sharon Larabee.

He was preceded in death by his wife and his parents.

David was the youngest of three children. At a young age, he began working on his family’s farm with his father which instilled a strong work ethic in him that later served to provide for his family. A year after he and Deborah were married, the young couple welcomed daughter, Anissa Lynn Larabee, and a second daughter, Nicole Denise Larabee was born in August of 1973. The couple remained in the small farming community with their daughters until 1986 and then moved to Phoenix, Ariz. David was a hard-working, respectable man throughout his life. He was often in the fields farming from dawn until dusk and also owned a local construction company with a close family friend. He volunteered with the Paw Paw Fire Department for many years and was well-known throughout the community. He was a dedicated son, husband, father, grandfather and brother. All who knew him admired him. While living in Arizona, he worked as a laborer for a construction company for many years, however, it was not long before he became a superintendent for the company and later retired from that position.

Those wishing to honor David’s lifelong commitment to family and community can make donations to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 4301 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22203 or https://nami.org/Home.