Larry Nelson Landrum

A dedicated professor with an endlessly curious scholarly mind, he always had a strong sense of justice and maintained a constant interest in today’s political affairs. Larry was quiet, kind, and very patient, with a perceptive and subtle sense of humor that helped him brave Parkinson’s disease for 23 years. His greatest complaint was that his developing incapacity prevented him from spending long hours in his basement office, writing or watching MSU basketball games among his large collection of books and popular culture artifacts.

Born in Huntington, Indiana to Harvey and Nellie (Rinearson) Landrum on April 21, 1938, Larry earned his BA and MA from Purdue University, and his PhD from Bowling Green University, where with Professor Ray Browne and others he helped develop The Popular Culture Association. He joined the English Department at Michigan State University in 1973 and taught American literature, Popular Culture, and Film, published books and articles and made numerous presentations at academic meetings until retirement in 2003. He was author/editor of Challenges in American Culture (1970), Dimensions of Detective Fiction (1976), American Popular Culture: A Guide to Information (1982) and American Mystery and Detective Fiction (1999). He was advisory editor of The Journal of Popular Culture from 1967 to 1985, Bibliographer for The Journal of Popular Film in the 1970’s, and a director of the MSU Clarion Science Fiction workshops.

Larry’s favorite place in summer was Pointe aux Chenes in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, where he enjoyed a cottage overlooking Lake Michigan, campfires with friends, riding his ATV on rough trails or maneuvering his canoe through shallow rivers from which he seldom caught a fish. On holidays, and after retirement, winters were warmer at Point East in Aventura, Florida.

Larry is survived by Nancy Pogel, his loving wife of 40 years, his daughter Beverly Landrum-Eaton (Dan), his sister Phyllis Stetzel (Delmer), and his brother Lawrence. Larry was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Stanley Landrum, and his son, Jason Landrum.

The family is grateful to the excellent staff at The Hospice House of Mid-Michigan for the extraordinary care they gave Larry. The family also thanks supportive relatives and friends, especially Michael Pogel, Pam Whitworth, Jenifer and Ella Hollander, Connie and Bob Meeker, Elizabeth Wright, Kazuko Thornton, Donna Zischke, Mary Ellen Furseth, Gale Schiamberg, Etta Abrahams, and Jan Parrish, as well as warm-hearted neighbors and kind participants in Nancy’s mah jongg and ukulele groups.

In accordance with Larry’s wishes, no funeral or large, organized remembrance activities will be held. Instead, memorial contributions may be made in Larry’s honor to the Parkinson’s Foundation (parkinsonsfoundation.org), Doctors Without Borders (doctorswithoutborders.org), or to a Progressive organization of your choice.