Memorial
Larry S. Baschnagel, 66 of Cedar Rapids, passed away at 1:26 am on April 7, 2025, at Cottage Grove Place after a brief battle with cancer. He was born July 7,1958 in Iowa City to Steve Baschnagel and Roylene (Scott) Johnson.
Larry was a man who loved to surround himself with everything living in nature and nurtured them all with all of his heart in order to see them thrive. He was an avid grower of multiple African Violet strains which were acquired from his interest in his grandmother Rose’s legacy of growing the plants along with loving and caring for several other indoor plants and outdoor gardens. He raised and developed several breeds of freshwater fish, which he fell in love with after frequenting the local Ottumwa shops of Stafford’s Fish and Fulton’s Pets. He grew up with a veritable menagerie of pets not limited to dogs and cats, but included horses, a goat, chickens - including ones that naturally laid multi-colored eggs, ducks, geese, rabbits, and even exotics like a pet skunk and a ferret. He even briefly brought home a monkey, until Mom declared it had to go or she was leaving us all. Known as the Rodent Guy by many of his Facebook followers and customers, he raised and sold teddy bear hamsters and pet chinchillas.
Anyone who knew Larry knew how much he loved music. Recently he was proud of his accomplishments when he bought a small keyboard and could remember how to play “Dance Little Doggie” from his childhood piano lesson days. Although he was never a musician, he was always singing or listening to music. He was always making up lyric variations to his favorite songs. He was our own Weird Larry Yankovic! He was an avid concert goer and had an eclectic taste in music genres from blues to country to rock. He was particularly fond of Fleetwood Mac, Grace Slick and Jefferson Starship, but was a Stevie Nicks superfan.
Larry graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1976. Growing up he worked at the family drugstore, West End Drug and earned additional high school credits in VICA while working in the afternoons. He worked in retail sales and management throughout Southeast Iowa. He returned somewhat to his roots working in the home healthcare field upon moving to Cedar Rapids and ultimately chose the profession of Therapeutic Massage. He received his LMT license at Carlson College in Anamosa, IA and established the Massage Garage in Cedar Rapids which he continued until illness prevented him from continuing.
Larry is survived by his sisters, Linda Baschnagel (Marshall Brown) and Brenda (Gary) Sanders. step-dad Virgil Johnson, step-sister Debra (Bill) Denzer, nephew, Alec Sanders, niece, Taryn Sanders, step-niece Jennifer Brown, and step-nephew Ty Denzer, and a wide array of cousins and extended family. He also left his close friends Helen Roth Peck, Rodney Wachter, and Brandon (Brianna) Harmon, others that he loved dearly and one very special Corgi named Owen. He is now with his mother Roylene Johnson, his aunts Ruth Smith and Ginnie Scott, uncles Roy Scott, Jr., Richard Scott and grandparents Rose and Roy Scott. His body has been cremated.
Larry loved flowers and plants of all kinds, but he dearly loved dogs. In lieu of flowers, Larry requested memorials be made to the Iowa Humane Alliance of Cedar Rapids, Corgwyn Corgi Sanctuary of Oelwein, IA, Last Hope Animal Rescue of Cedar Rapids, Cedar Valley Humane Society of Cedar Rapids, or donate to your preferred no-kill pet rescue in your area on his behalf.
A Celebration of Life open house for Larry will be held on April 19, 2025, from 2 - 6 pm at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, 4200 First Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402. A second Celebration of Life open house will be held in Ottumwa at a later date to be announced.