Larry Edward Rose

Larry Edward Rose died January 14, 2024, at 8:35am.  He was born on September 3, 1946, in Grand Rapids, MI, and was raised in Cherry Valley New York.   Cherry Valley is a small rural Village in upstate New York near Cooperstown.  He was preceded in death by his parents, James Lauren Rose, and Alice Marie Chapman Rose.  He is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Vickie Lee Pleasant Rose, his brother, Richard Rose (Marlene) a son Bryan Rose(Laura)  and daughter Lynette Thornton  and his 2 grandchildren Alysen Rose and Mason Rose.

Larry graduated from Cherry Valley High School in 1964.  He was accepted into the Agricultural Engineering school at Michigan State University but deferred for a year to serve out a term as the State Secretary of the New York Future Farmers of America (FFA).  He attended Cobleskill Technical Junior College during that first year before transferring to MSU.  He met his lifelong friend Bill Brown at Cobleskill. He graduated from MSU with honors and a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1968.  

Larry enjoyed a 30+ year career with General Foods which was later acquired by Philip Morris and then merged with Kraft division after their acquisition.  He began his career as a summer intern in the Post Cereals division in 1967 & 1968.  His early career was interrupted by the Vietnam conflict.  Larry enlisted in the army after graduating from Michigan State and went on to Officer Candidate School (OCS).  He graduated OCS with honors after finishing #1 in the Engineer Officer Candidate Class, graduating as distinguished military graduate, an honor graduate, and a leadership graduate. He received the rank of Second Lieutenant.   He was posted to Indianapolis, IN where he worked in the Military Intelligence Field office and finished out his Army service as a First Lieutenant.  

Larry rejoined General Foods after the Army in 1972.  He spent the next 5 years working in the Post Cereal Division in Battle Creek Michigan as a Project engineer.  During this stint, he earned 2 design patents for cereal production (Alphabets Cereal).   In 1977, the family was transferred to Dover, DE where Larry served as the Plant Engineering and Maintenance manager.   The family returned to Battle Creek for 2 short years where Larry served as the Division Engineering manager with Post.   In 1985, Larry achieved a career milestone when he was promoted to the Plant Manager of the Maxwell House Division in San Leandro, CA.  He spent the next 9 years in this role leading a team of 400 people.  As San Leandro was one of the smaller processing plants, it was constantly under evaluation and threat of closure.  He managed to fend off those threats and keep the plant open.  He also successfully negotiated 2 large labor contracts with the Teamsters union.  As a leader, he was always a fierce advocate for all the personnel that worked under him.  In 1994, his leadership was recognized as he was promoted to run the largest coffee facility in the world, the Maxwell House plant in Jacksonville, FL.   He spent 3 years leading that team before accepting the role of Business Development Manager within the food service division.  That role would take him to Chicago for his final 3 years with Kraft Foods. He retired for the first time in 2001.

Retirement for Larry proved to be short lived as he landed his dream job with the Dupuy Silo in Jacksonville.  The coffee storage industry in New Orleans was devastated after hurricane Katrina.   A prominent family run company was looking for ways to diversify their revenue base away from New Orleans.   Jacksonville was the perfect place and with Larry’s background from Maxwell House coffee he was the perfect person to lead the project.  Although it was the most demanding assignment of his career, he loved “being the President and the janitor” of the startup operation.  He oversaw everything from sight selection, development of the facility,  and staffing.   Larry was actively involved with the Silo project from 2001-2006 when he retired for the second and last time.  

On a personal level, Larry was extremely sentimental, mentally tough & more stubborn than most.   He was a good man to the core with a strong moral compass and never backed down from his beliefs.  Those who knew him would remember him for his honesty and strong convictions and that he would put his life on the line for anyone he felt was in the right.  He was personally driven with a strong work ethic that guided him throughout his life starting at RoseCrest Farms where he raised cows with his brother, Richard.   Incidentally, his last cow was named RoseCrest Lively Vickie, a small tribute to his wife.  Most of all, he had an incredibly infectious laugh that was known to all his friends and relatives and will be greatly missed.  

Larry and Vickie’s married life was filled with many wonderful moments.  They shared a love of boating, both sail & motor, playing croquet and downhill skiing with their children and fellow Oakland Ski Club Members.   Most of all they enjoyed being together with family.  They enjoyed summers in Kalkaska, MI with family and neighbors on Manistee Lake.  Their 2 children, Bryan, and Lynette brought total joy to their lives and their grandchildren Alysen and Mason only magnified that joy.  Some of Larry’s and Vickie’s best retirement years have been living at Fleet Landing.   They’ve had the opportunity to make strong friendships with wonderful residents who are full of life.  Fleet Landing offered Larry many opportunities to perform on stage and to sing in many groups which were both of Larry’s passions.  Performing arts have been a constant throughout Larry’s life. He performed trumpet as a teen with his dad’s band, acted on stage with theater groups from coast to coast and most recently at Fleet Landing in the Follies and Fleet’s got Talent along with being able to sing in the church choir and with others at Fleet Landing. Larry will be missed greatly and will leave a huge hole in our lives.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, February 2, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.  in Fleet Landing’s Johnson Hall located at 1 Fleet Landing Blvd, Atlantic Beach, FL 32233.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Larry at:

The Fellowship of Christian Farmers International (fcfi.org)  

LiveLung organization which supports Vickie and others on their cancer journey (livelung.org); when you click the donate button, it will take you to a page that says “Dusty Joy Foundation”

The Fleet Landing Chapel Fund (not online A check may be written to Fleet Landing with The Chapel Fund as its designation)