Lawrence “Larry” Mcguire

Lawrence “Larry” Patrick McGuire 75 of rural Fairmont, Minnesota passed away peacefully in his home on Friday August 16, 2024. Larry was a big man in stature and in life, he loved all animals from sheep, dogs and cats to cougars and elk. He proudly raised them all through most of his life. He loved his extended family more than he could ever express in words, and he was successful in a long business career. He was also an avid nature photographer and game hunter throughout his life.

Lawrence was the son of Ira and Kathryn (Crowley) McGuire, he was born February 23rd, 1949 and raised in Vincent, Iowa. He graduated from Eagle Grove High School and Northwest Missouri State University. He also furthered his studies in food science to support his career.

Larry has a lifetime of banners and ribbons from showing many breeds of sheep through the years. In the early years, you would have known Larry and his family for traveling in a modified school bus full of sheep to fairs across the Midwest. Then, over the last forty years McGuire Sheep Farms was noted for having one of the premier Cheviot and Southdown flocks in the United States, also raising and showing flocks of Hampshires, Suffolks and Oxfords along the way.

Larry’s investment in the breed and youth programs contributed to the rapid growth of the Southdown breed to one of the preeminent purebred sheep breeds in the United States. He was a generous Southdown Junior show and futurity sponsor, and he was recently recognized by the American Southdown Association with the Spirit of the Breed award.

Larry and a group of colleagues and investors resurrected a local frozen food plant in Fairmont, MN. Larry became co-owner and CEO of Fairmont Foods, producing products for Sara Lee, Lean Cuisine, Fazoli’s, Bakers Square, White Castle, Cub Foods and more. A highlight of his career was working with Paul and Linda McCartney to develop and promote a line of specialty foods under Linda’s name, having joined them on a North American tour to promote the products, and visited their sheep farm in England. Fairmont Foods created opportunities for hundreds of employees and their families in Martin County throughout the years.

Lawrence is survived by his siblings Bruce McGuire of Ankeny, Iowa and Iris (Tim) Hazel of Fort Dodge, Iowa, as well as his sister-in-law, Karen McGuire. Uncle Lawrence was definitely known to spoil his nieces and nephews and enjoyed several great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Lawrence was proceeded in death by his parents Ira and Kathryn McGuire, his brother Tim McGuire, nephew Vance Weltha and great-great niece Aubree.

A visitation will be held from 1:00 - 3:00 PM on Thursday, August 22nd, 2024 at Laufersweiler Funeral Home in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Services to follow, also at Laufersweiler Funeral Home, will be held at 3:00 PM. Burial to follow at Saint Joseph’s Cemetery in Duncombe, Iowa.

Memorials may be left to family discretion.