Lawrence Wayne Denfeld

Lawrence Wayne Denfeld December 6, 1955 - February 22, 2023 Lawrence "Larry" Denfeld was born December 6th, 1955, in Portland, Oregon to his late parents Ambrose and Charlott (Beaty) Denfeld. After attending David Douglas High School, Larry enrolled at Oregon State University in the fall of 1974 where he studied Business Administration. On the first day of his freshman year he met Shari Schneider, in Chemistry class, and there was chemistry indeed. The two dated throughout their college years and after graduating from Oregon State, married in November of 1980 and moved to Bend. Upon moving to Central Oregon, Larry began working at Denfeld Paints, which his father and oldest brother opened in 1975. He was a smart and relentlessly driven businessman, eventually taking over the business with his brother, Ed. He served on multiple national councils for Paint Dealers and was a board member of AllPro for many years. He took tremendous pride in his work and used the business as a platform to support people and causes in this community that he held dear. Above all, he was a trusted and steadfast presence in the lives of his employees, customers and their families. He sold the business in 2014 and after nearly 40 years of service to the community he retired in 2016. Along with his passion for business Larry loved the outdoors. An accomplished and avid skier in his younger years, he loved nothing more than skiing down the Glade Trail into Government Camp after a long day on Mt. Hood or catching air on Mt. Bachelor. Later in life he developed a love for fly fishing and logged many hours tending to the beautiful yard and garden he and Shari had at the house they built together. Larry also had a deep love of the ocean. Some of his happiest and oft-told memories are of sailing trips in the San Juan Islands or walking along the beach in one of his favorite places, Bandon, Oregon. He was a fiercely loyal and dedicated father. He never missed a sporting event or musical performance, of which there were countless, traveling thousands of miles with his daughters and their teammates over the years. He was a hands-on dad, volunteering in classrooms, chaperoning field trips, helping with homework, and gently (but sternly) reminding any suitors or dance dates what time he expected his daughters to be home safely. He was a proud grandfather of 5 and had a child-like joy when around them. Larry was a devoted Beaver fan and supporter of his Alma Mater, Oregon State University. He will be remembered for the laughter he always brought to a room with his sharp wit and dry sense of humor, and for his love of his family; especially his sweetheart, Shari. He was principled, deliberate, and quietly supported those around him in ways large and small whenever he could. Albeit too short, his time on earth was immensely impactful and his presence will continue to ripple through this community and his family for years to come. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Shari Denfeld. His daughters Danielle Groves, and Lauren Denfeld. His sons-in-law, Eric Groves and Jeff DeWolf, and his 5 grandchildren, Andrew James (9), Allison Mae (6), Olivia Charlotte (3), Vance Martin (3), and Coen Lawrence (1). Siblings, Cathy and Randy Brusse, Dale and Leslie Denfeld, Ed and Julie Denfeld and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial for Larry will be held at the Bend First United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 4th at 1:00pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethlehem Inn, 3705 N Hwy 97, Bend, OR 97701. (https://bethleheminn.org)

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Lawrence Wayne Denfeld

December 6, 1955 - February 22, 2023