ALBERT LAWRENCE WRENN obituary

Albert Lawrence (Larry) Wrenn, Jr., 53, of Kalispell, Mont., died Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Hospital after suffering a heart attack.

He was born April 9, 1956, in Havre, Mont., to Lois Blair (Butterfield) Wrenn and Albert Lawrence Wrenn Sr. After attending elementary and high school in Havre, Albert joined the U.S. Army in 1975. While serving in Ohio, he married his first wife, Carla, and to that union was born one son, Carl Jason Wrenn. The couple later divorced. For many years after leaving the military, Al traveled the country with his beloved Doberman "Red." He lived in many states and always managed to find work whereever he landed. He later met the greatest love of his life, Rebecca (Becky) Grossman, and they married on June 26, 1999. Those years were the happiest of Al's life. He attended college at Flathead Valley Community College, was past president of FVCC's Veterans Association and a member of Kalispell American Legion Post. Al was proud to be a veteran and was proud to serve other veterans. Quick-witted and quick-tempered, Al was tender-hearted with a great sense of humor. He was passionate about his art and photography and was a military history enthusiast. He loved family, friends, children and animals. Gardening with his wife Becky and making homemade fruit wines were two of Al's favorite pastimes. He was happiest in the great outdoors. Wild deer often followed him on his nightly security rounds at Glacier National Park. While working in Yellowstone Park he gained the nickname "The Elk Whisperer" from the park staff. Al worked as a delivery driver and sales representative for High Country Linen until recently when deteriorating health forced him to resign. Al was preceded in death by his mother and an aunt, Margaret (Peggy) Knapp. He is survived by wife, Becky of Kalispell; stepsons, Benjamin Grossmann of Stillwater, Okla., and Gabriel Grossmann of Columbia Falls, Mont.; son, Carl Jason Wrenn of Ohio; sisters, Lita (Wayne) Thisselle of Havre and Laura (Kelly) Steen of Kinsey, Mont.; brother Richard (Barbara) Wrenn of Milton, Fla.; father, Albert (Kim) Wrenn Sr. Of Lisbon, Maine; half-brother,, Patrick (Becky) Wrenn of River Falls, Wis.; uncle and aunt, Richard and Laurel Knapp of Havre; numerous nieces and nephews and a multitude of beloved friends from around the world. Cremation has taken place. A memorial honoring Al's life will be held June 27 at Kalispell's rural Birch Grove Community Center starting at 3 p.m. A potluck barbecue picnic will follow.