Larry Allen Neckar, of rural Blue River, Wis., died at his home on Thursday, June 7, 2012, at the age of 63.

He was born May 1, 1949, in Kenosha, Wis., to Lad E. and Lucille M. (Kleinke) Neckar. Larry was a 1967 graduate of St. Joseph High School in Kenosha and a 1973 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He attended the UW-Platteville graduate program in counseling and guidance.

From 1970-1971, Larry served as a VISTA volunteer in Port Hudson, La., where he met Andrea K. (Kathy) Poimboeuf. They were married on Sept. 1, 1973, at the home of her parents in Logansport, La. The couple moved to their farm in Richwood Township, Richland County in the fall of 1975. Larry was the director of the Boscobel Youth Center in Boscobel, Wis., from 1975-1977.

In addition to working as an AODA counselor in Boscobel and to tending his sheep at Linden Springs Farm, Larry was also a ski instructor (Mt. La Crosse), a carpenter, a general contractor (Dovetail Builders), a rural mail carrier (Boscobel, Wis.) and a land title agent (Southwest Wisconsin Land Title, Richland Center, Wis., and Flame Petroleum, Baton Rouge, La.).  Although deeply rooted in his farm, Larry loved mountaineering, travel, skiing, canoeing, hiking, bicycling and sharing his life with friends from around the world.  He was at home in wild places from his own woods to national and state parks and wilderness areas throughout North America. His solo bicycle trip from Kenosha, Wis., to Woods Landing, Wyo., the months he spent living with a Zapotec family in a small fishing village on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and his trip to Turin, Italy, as the coach of the Thai National Downhill Ski Team are just a few examples of his love of life and spirit of adventure.

Larry volunteered his time to a large number of individuals and organizations. He was a lead organizer for the Boscobel Community Christmas Dinner, served on the Boards of Directors of the Kickapoo Exchange Food Co-op, Gays Mills, and Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School, Viroqua, sang in the St. John’s Community Christmas Choir, Boscobel, directed construction of St. Nicholas Church, at St. Isaac Skete, rural Boscobel, and served as Rural Letter Carriers’ Union Steward at the Boscobel Post Office. He was a talented musician (vocal and guitar) and performed with friends, at folk festivals, and for kindergarten and preschool classes throughout southwest Wisconsin. He led youth canoeing, caving, climbing and camping trips in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Wyoming.

Larry leaves behind his wife, Kathy; three sons,  Andrew Benjamin (Drew) and his wife Amanda (Jones) of Strum, Wis., Christopher Daniel (Cris) and his wife Lesya Kulchenko of San Mateo, Calif., and Jonathan Lad (Johnny) Neckar of Stateline, Nev.; two grandchildren, Cullen and Bella Neckar of Strum, Wis.; two wards,  Michael Poimboeuf, brother-in-law, and his wife Ann-Margaret Moyer of San Mateo, Calif., and Simeon Kulp, nephew, of Blue River, Wis.; two international student daughters, Natalia Koulikova of Dubna, Russia, and Yalan Ye of Shilong, China; two additional brothers-in-law, Walter (Tré) Poimboeuf of Logansport, La., and Timothy Poimboeuf of Las Vegas, Nev.; four additional nieces and nephews, Michelle, Anthony, Emma and Owen Poimboeuf of San Mateo, Calif.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his infant grandson, Aiden Benjamin Neckar and his brother, Lee Thomas Neckar.

Bella driving a tractor with Larry

Chasing Grandpa down the hill

Cullen and Bella helping Grandpa feed the sheep

Cullen and Grandpa

Bella and Grandpa at the top

Kathy and Larry in the Ukraine

Bella and Larry at Heavenly Tahoe

Larry with Johnny Neckar and Chris Neckar

Cullen Petting a lamb