Laurence John Weinbrenner

Laurence John Weinbrenner, 85, El Dorado Springs, passed away Monday, June 17, 2024. Larry was born on Oct. 9, 1938, to Alfred and Genevieve Weinbrenner at the Hillsboro, KS, hospital across the street from the home of his paternal grandparents. Larry’s father was a carpenter and the family traveled at times from town to town, looking for work.

After WWII broke out, the family lived in Noel, MO. where Larry’s dad worked at Camp Crowder, building barracks. They later moved to Wichita, KS, where they lived until 1947. Larry’s younger brother, Richard, was born in 1944 in Wichita.

     In 1947, the family moved to Kansas City. Larry graduated from Southeast High School in 1957. Larry and a group of friends enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and completed basic training at Lackland A.F.B., San Antonio, TX. Larry’s next duty was at Amarillo A.F.B., Amarillo, TX, where he attended jet plane refueling school. He was transferred to a S.A.C. bomber base, Ellsworth A.F.B., Rapid City, SD. Larry was assigned to the Air Police, where he got a brief taste of law enforcement, which he enjoyed.

While home on leave one Christmas, Larry met a beautiful auburn-haired girl at Allen’s drive-in restaurant in Kansas City. Larry told his friend that she was for him. Although Jeanette was grounded for being late getting home that night, they managed to date again before he left for Ellsworth A.F.B., and she saw him off on a train at the Kansas City Union Station. Larry and Jeanette were engaged later. After Larry left the service, they were married on March 25, 1961.

Larry & Jeanette started their life together in an apartment off Troost Ave. in Kansas City, MO. Larry went to work for the Post Office as a letter carrier in 1962, the same year as their first son, Craig, was born. They bought their first new home in Grandview, MO, in 1964 and used sweat equity as the down payment and spent vacation time and evenings painting the house. Larry worked part time jobs, so the family was able to take vacations. Larry and Jeanette’s second son, John, was born in 1966. Larry always had a dream to work in law enforcement, so he became a reserve Police Officer in the City of Grandview, MO, in 1967.

While on vacation in Montana in 1969, Larry and Jeanette fell in love with a small town called White Fish. The only federal jobs available there were Park Ranger and Border Patrol Agent. After about two years, they were about to give up on moving to Montana, when Larry heard on the radio that exams for the position of Border Patrol Agent were to be given in Kansas City. Larry took the exam and passed; then passed the oral review panel interview. Larry could fulfill his dream and keep his federal time, so they then decided to go for it and hopefully end up in White Fish someday.

The job was not guaranteed until the Larry graduated from the sixteen-week Border Patrol Academy with training in self-defense and firearms, as well as a working knowledge of immigration law and Spanish. A further six months of education and multiple tests were required to become an agent.

Larry was 32 years old when he was accepted to the academy and had to keep up with the other, much younger, cadets. After graduating from the Border Patrol Academy, he was assigned to Cotulla, TX. The family lived in Dilley, TX, where Larry continued to improve his knowledge of Spanish and the law. Larry’s favorite passage from the bible, Prov. 3:5-6, helped him through these stressful times.

The family learned to love Texas. It was a great place to raise children, and both sons worked cattle on horseback and did other ranch chores. They raised various critters including black snakes, armadillos, two deer and a baby alligator. Larry’s fondest memories were when he watched each son when they got their first deer.

The family moved to Pearsall, TX, where they were active in the First Baptist Church.  Larry was ordained a deacon and learned the position was one of humble service (Eph.2:8). The church and the members meant a lot to the Weinbrenner family.

Larry was a 3rd  degree master mason and was raised at Frio lodge #399 in Pearsall.  When he retired, he moved his membership to Clintonville Lodge, #482, in El Dorado Springs.

Larry loved finding arrowheads, as well as hunting for deer, wild hogs and rattlesnakes. He tanned many snake skins and gave them away as gifts.

Larry made many lifelong friends amongst the Border Patrol brotherhood in Cotulla. He enjoyed doing farm and ranch checks and catching smugglers on the highways. He tried to treat everyone with kindness and respect.

In 1987, the family was transferred to Lynden, WA, where Larry became the very first Border Patrol K-9 handler in the Great Northwest. He spent two months training at Alabama Canine Law Enforcement Officer’s Center in Tuscaloosa, AL. There he met his four-legged partner Gus, and the two of them helped many agencies with drug enforcement all over the Pacific Northwest and Canada. They also visited many local schools as a means of drug interdiction, and the students loved Gus.

Larry and Gus were to be the first Border Patrol K-9 team to retire together, but Gus died unexpectedly. The city planted a cherry tree in his honor and erected a plaque for his service to the community. Gus was twice the runner-up for the top law enforcement dog of the year awards in Whatcom County, WA, and received ribbons from the Bellingham Kennel Club.

Larry was very proud to have worn the Border Patrol green for twenty-three years.  He tried to live up to the motto, “Honor First.” The only thing Larry and Jeanette never achieved was the move to White Fish.

Larry and Jeanette retired to El Dorado Springs. Larry had another hobby, a red 1955 Ford T-Bird, which was his dream car as a teenager. Later, after they sold it, they bought another classic vehicle, a 1965 Ford F-150 P/U. They went to a lot of car shows over the years with Larry’s brother, Dick, and his wife, Sharon.

Larry’s main interest was history, especially the Civil War and the Old West. He collected firearms and accoutrements from the period. He also spent many hours painting miniature military and Indian figures sculpted by a friend in Idaho who was a western artist.

Larry’s life was centered on three things. First was a love of God which he learned at an early age from his Grandma Longhofer. Second was finding the love of his life, Jeanette. Third was his two sons. They were the first members of the family to graduate from college.

Craig followed in his dad’s footsteps by joining the Border Patrol, serving in the elite BORTAC unit. He served twice in Bolivia, locating and destroying cocaine labs, worked undercover and held a supervisory position. John became a successful businessman, owning several video stores and then working at Sony Corporation. Although both were successful in their chosen fields, the one thing Larry was proud of most was that both sons were committed Christians. Jeanette and Larry’s job was completed with God’s help.

As Larry left this life, he had few regrets as the Lord gave him a life filled with joy, but his greatest joy was in Eternal Life through Jesus, followed by his wife and sons. He achieved all he ever wanted out of life.

A funeral service for Larry Weinbrenner was held Saturday, June 22, at the El Dorado Springs Church of God (Holiness) with Rev. Joe Trussell officiating. Interment followed at Clintonville Cemetery under the direction of Bland-Hackleman Funeral Home.

Pallbearers were Elijah Weinbrenner, Keaton Weinbrenner, Jonathan Brodsky, David Dissler, Jesse Throckmorton and Kent Fortney. Honorary pallbearers were Dick Weinbrenner, Carroll Dodds, Lynn Morgan, Tom Rebholz, Mark Boch, Tom Gladden, Jim Slayton, John Wilson and Alfred Fenske.

Memorial donations may be made to the El Dorado Springs Church of God (Holiness) or to the Border Patrol Museum and left at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be left at www.blandhackleman.com.