Larry E. McCoy

Funeral services led by our dear friend Rev. Anna Peck will be held at noon Friday, April 5, 2024, at Runge Mortuary in Davenport. Visitation will be 10 a.m. – noon prior to the funeral. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Scott County, QC Paws or any favorite animal shelter. Online condolences may be left at www.rungemortuary.com.

Larry was born June 3, 1940, in Tuscola, Illinois, to Leonard and Areva (McBride) McCoy. Larry married Carolyn (Sparks) McCoy in 1963 in Elmwood, Illinois. She passed away in 2013. He married Donna (Spielman) Backstrom March 14, 2015, in Florida.

Larry graduated from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, with a BS in communications. Following college, Larry’s first job was selling classified advertising for the Rockford, Illinois, Morning Star and Register-Republic (today’s Rockford Register Star). He later sold national advertising, was named national advertising manager, and then served as classified advertising manager until 1978. He joined the Dubuque Telegraph Herald as classified advertising manager in 1978. He also served as telemarketing manager and advertising operations manager, retiring in 2006.

Larry was past president of Alpha Delta Sigma (ADS), a professional advertising fraternity, past president of the Mississippi Valley Classified Advertising Managers Association, past president of the Barn Community Theatre in Dubuque, member of Sigma Delta Chi (Society of Professional Journalists) and a member of The Rotary Club of Dubuque. With his late wife, he managed the Die Laughing Mystery Players and also performed in several Barn Community Theatre shows, circa 1980s-2004, either on stage or playing trumpet in the pit band for musicals.

Larry was an Army veteran. In honor of veterans everywhere, he played TAPS at military funerals for many years. Donna’s father was a WWII veteran of the front lines, so this brought them a shared interest in helping other veterans. He would play TAPS on most every holiday, always right at sunset.

Larry’s hobbies included playing trumpet, baritone, trombone, clarinet and recorder, even playing a duet on his recorder with his granddaughter. He enjoyed woodworking, and collecting/emailing puns, jokes, and quotes to friends via daily email. He also was an avid reader. He very much enjoyed traveling and early on in our marriage, he and I traveled frequently. One highlight was a stop in Santorini, Greece, on a cruise. We wandered away and could not find our way back to the ship, which didn’t surprise either of us or my children. We stopped and asked for directions, but we did not understand Greek, so we’d get the giggles and have to stop down the road and ask again for directions. This. This is what I’ll miss. We had so much fun together and yes, we found our way back to the ship. Laughter was an important piece of our everyday lives. I will miss him forever.

Those left to cherish Larry’s memory are his wife, Donna McCoy; their only grandchild, Fiona Backstrom; Donna’s son, Jon Backstrom and his wife, Amy Phillips; and Donna’s daughter, Madonna Backstrom. He leaves behind three cats, Bertie, Gracie, and Izzy.

Larry was preceded in death by his first wife, Carolyn McCoy; his parents, Leonard and Areva McCoy; his in-laws, Doreen and Bert Sparks; several wonderful cats and two precious Collies.

Special thanks to Dr. Lynn Geick, UnityPoint Health, Bettendorf, Iowa, for his wonderful medical care.

Hug your loved ones, treasure them always.