Larry "Joe" Desaire

Larry Joseph Desaire, of Olathe, Kansas, passed away on July 4, 2024 in Olathe, Kansas.

He was born March 27, 1945, in Damar, Kansas to Amy (Garringer) and George Desaire. Larry excelled in all sports during high school and advanced to spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers. An arm injury caused him to return to Hays, Kansas. Larry enlisted in the Air Force and served for three and a half years. After discharge, he returned to Hays and received a teaching degree from Fort Hays State University. Larry and Betty were married on October 2, 1970. Upon completion of teaching degrees, both began careers at Pawnee Heights High School in Burdett, Kansas. This led him to years of teaching and coaching. Larry decided to change careers which introduced him to selling agricultural products for various companies. After working in Kansas, California, Ohio, and Nebraska, Larry retired and moved to Olathe, Kansas with his wife Betty, of 54 years.

Larry had an outgoing personality which allowed him to visit with anyone he met. His sense of humor and comic antics kept him busy at work or playing golf with family and friends. Larry really enjoyed his time working with farmers and colleagues in Kansas and Nebraska. The friends he made were important to him. He had a real desire for learning about families through his ancestry research. He spent most of his retirement time on the computer increasing his knowledge about many topics. After living in Grand Island, Nebraska for 23 years, Larry and Betty moved to Olathe, Kansas to be near to family. They made quick friends of people in the neighborhood and at St. Paul Catholic Church.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, as well as his brother, Adrian (Dee) Desaire. He is survived by his wife, Betty (Dome), son, Tony Desaire of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and daughter, Heather Desaire of Lawrence, Kansas, sister Phyllis Knipp of Dickenson, North Dakota, as well as grandchildren Max, Jessie, and Penelope. Larry was a family man and will be missed by his sister and brother-in-laws, as well as nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Monday, July 15 at 10am at St Paul Catholic Church, followed by a memorial mass at 11am. A committal service will take place at Leavenworth National Cemetery on Tuesday, July 16 at 12:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, we request donations be made to St. Paul’s Catholic Church of Olathe building fund.


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