Clarence "Larry" Rolfe

Clarence ("Larry") Rolfe of Vicksburg, MI died February 3, 2018 at the age of 92, after a fulfilling life. Clarence was born April 12, 1925 at his folk's farm in Leroy Township in Calhoun County, MI. Towards the beginning of the Great Depression his parents, Clide and Eva (Staffen) moved the family, which then included brother Stanley, to 138 N. Church St. in the Village of Climax, where Clarence lived throughout his school years. Clarence played on the 1938 Climax six-man football team as a true freshman, weighing all of about 75 pounds, but excelled at baseball in high school. While playing on an American Legion team he was scouted at 16 years of age by the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Billy Southworth, who personally invited him to a try-out with the Cards later in high school, but that was not to be. After graduating from Climax High School Clarence enlisted in the war effort in 1943, like so many other young men of the time. A glider corps crash, and elbow surgery, ended Clarence's prospects as a professional ball player. However, his ability to type placed him in various stateside positions during World War II. He also auditioned into an army dance band, which was surely a harbinger of things to come. While stationed in Memphis Clarence and a few of his army buddies, who re-named him "Larry", would often hitchhike to the USO facility in Evansville, IN. During a USO dance he zeroed-in on one particular girl, and immediately declared to a buddy he was going to marry her. That girl, which he had not yet even met, was LaVon Miller, and they indeed were married in Evansville on December 22, 1946. After being discharged from the army in 1946 Larry obtained Bachelors and Masters Degrees in music from (then) Western Michigan College, and the University of Michigan. He became a teacher and the band director at Mendon, where his bands consistently achieved top ratings at band events. Although Larry initially aspired to a long career as a band director, that career was cut short after only six years at Mendon due to the onset of an unusual hearing affliction. Several innovative surgical procedures over the years initially improved this condition, but for many years his hearing continued to deteriorate. This condition eventually required him to stop playing his saxophone and clarinet, and thus spelled the end of the Larry Rolfe Dance Band, which from 1946-1973 played "big band" gigs at dance halls throughout Michigan and Indiana. When one musical door was closed, another swung open, as Larry opened a music store in Kalamazoo in the mid-1950s. He built Midwest Music Service into the leading band student-oriented music store in the region. Over a period of 30 years thousands of students were personally "fitted" with a musical instrument by Larry at schools throughout the region, and embarked on their own experiences of enjoyment with music. Larry was unquestionably "The Music Man" of southwest Michigan. Throughout these years Larry and LaVon bought a home and raised their family in Vicksburg, and instilled in their children the importance of traditional values, such as hard work, honesty, and personal integrity. Larry and LaVon attended seemingly all of their children's band and athletic events during their years in the Vicksburg school system. After retiring from the music store business Larry dabbled in real estate, but later in life also found a new passion as a volunteer at the Air Zoo, where his daughter actually became his boss! Harkening back to his years as a teacher, he also enjoyed tutoring school children for a period of time. Larry enjoyed fishing, deer hunting with his "gang" at the family cabin up north, vegetable gardening, and of course listening to Detroit Tiger games on WKZO radio, as well as occasionally attending a game at the venerable Tiger Stadium, and subsequently Comerica Park. In especially his later years Larry seemed to become more openly proud of his military service in the 1940s, and was seldom seen without his "World War II Veteran" cap. Larry and LaVon enjoyed 49 ocean cruises over the years, and although Larry was dead-set on a 50th, the onset of Parkinson's/dementia several years ago intervened to deviously steal his otherwise good physical health, and then also affect his incredibly sharp mind. Having to give up working in his large vegetable garden was only one of many unfortunate consequences of this debilitating disease. Larry's brother Stanley preceded him in death, as did his niece Karen Rolfe (Lewis/Smith), and his first born child, Kevin. He is survived by his beloved wife of over 71 years, LaVon, his sister-in-law, Georgia Rolfe, sons Craig Rolfe, Kirk Rolfe, and Bruce (Crystal) Rolfe, and daughter Tamra (Randy) Stafford, as well grandsons Nicholas (Lisa) Stafford, Jaron Rolfe and Alexander Rolfe. Visitation will be held at the Langeland Funeral Chapel at 205 E. Maple St. in Climax on Saturday, February 10 at 1:00 p.m., followed by a remembrance service at 2:00 p.m. Clarence ("Larry") will be laid to rest at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Climax. The family suggests Larry would appreciate any memorial donations, including in lieu of flowers, to either Residential Opportunities, Inc. (ROI) of Kalamazoo, Hospice of Southwest Michigan, the Air Zoo, or the instrumental band programs of the Mendon Community Schools or Vicksburg Community Schools.