Marvin Daniel “Danny” LaRose, 80, of Michigan, formerly of Crystal City, died April 27, 2019. Mr. LaRose was born Feb. 8th, 1939, in Crystal City, the son of the late Johanna and Marvin LaRose. He was a multi-sport athlete at Crystal City High School, earning varsity letters in football, track and basketball, and helped lead the track team to a state championship. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1960 from the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he starred in football and track, earning unanimous All-American honors and finishing 8th in the 1960 Heisman Trophy vote. He was named Big Eight Conference Sophomore of the Year in football and broke Olympian Al Oerter’s indoor shot put record. After being drafted by the Detroit Lions, he played six seasons in the National Football League, playing for the Lions, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.
He was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, the same year he was in the inaugural group of inductees into the Crystal City High School Hall of Fame.
In later years, Mr. LaRose participated in the senior Olympics and enjoyed volunteering with the Pine River Area High School track and field program. He enjoyed spending time with family and animals, collecting Theodore Roosevelt memorabilia and indulging in food. He is remembered as an entertaining and amicable man with a strong sense of humor and a vibrant, compassionate spirit.
He is survived by his wife: Janet (Carpenter) LaRose, whom he married Oct. 5, 1979; six children: Shelly (Dave) Bentley, Jay (Deb) LaRose, Kim (Todd) Prey, Chas (Lisa) Carpenter, Amy (Dedrick) Casab and Laurie (Michael) Carpenter; 13 grandchildren; and his dog: Willy.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at the LeRoy Methodist Church, 310 W Gilbert St, in Le Roy, Mich. Visitation will resume at 9:30 a.m. until a funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 2, at the church. Luncheon will follow the funeral service at the Luther Lions Club in Luther. Memorials may be made to the Luther United Methodist Church Steeple Fund, 315 State Street, Luther, MI 49656. Arrangements are under the direction of Pruitt-Livingston Funeral Home in Reed City, Mich.