Larry E. Shoemaker

Larry Eugene Shoemaker, 65, of Goshen, formerly of Illinois, died at his home Wednesday, January 21, 2015. He was born July 2, 1949 in Washington, Illinois, to Donald and Ila June (Litwiller) Shoemaker. He is survived by his father, Donald of Goshen; three sisters, Joyce (John) Yoder of Bryan, Ohio, Sandra (Doug) Friesen of Goshen, and Nelda (Bill) Wittig of Iowa City, Iowa; two nephews and four nieces. He was preceded in death by his mother in 2010. Larry grew up on the family farm in Dakota, Illinois, and attended Dakota Schools until 1969. He had additional vocational training at the Freeport Sheltered Workshop where he worked until he was placed at Micro Switch/Honeywell retiring in 2000. In 2005 he moved to an apartment in Goshen close to where his parents lived. Although undiagnosed as a child, Larry's unique qualities were consistent with Autism-Aspergers disorder. He would collect things in sequence, only focusing on one collection at a time. As a child he collected butterflies, but his latest collection was Bibles. He had an aptitude for art and would focus on one subject or one medium at a time. As a child he drew a series of school buses, followed by tractors, fire trucks and so forth. Later he would draw portraits with charcoal or paint farm buildings with oils. He won an award and had his drawing included in the annual Illinois Art by the Handicapped touring exhibit in 1970. He enjoyed sharing his unique ability to remember exact dates of family reunions and similar events as well as who was in attendance. He was steadfast in his faith and nurturing his faith was very important to him. He had been a member of Freeport Mennonite Church (Illinois) until 1978 when he began participating with a non-denominational faith fellowship in Rockford, Ill., until it disbanded in 1991, when he returned to his childhood church. When he moved to Goshen, he was welcomed by Maple City Chapel, which graciously provided transportation so he could worship with them. Friends may call one hour prior to the 2 p.m. Saturday, January 31, 2015 memorial service at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home. Cremation will take place at Yoder-Culp Crematory. Burial will be in Violett Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Maple City Chapel Care Fund, 2015 Lincolnway East, Goshen, IN 46526.