Loren "Larry" Fielding Priest

A shining light has passed from this earth. Father, grandfather, uncle and devoted husband, Loren (Larry) Fielding Priest, died from natural causes on August 3, 2022 in Rosemount, Minnesota.

He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 20, 1929 to Cornelia (Colonel) and Loren (Lump) Priest. He grew up in Brookville, Indiana, but he also spent time living and going to school in Florida. He graduated from Indiana University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Music degree (BM) in woodwind performance. While at IU he served as concertmaster solo clarinetist, student conductor of the Symphonic Band and solo clarinetist in the Philharmonic Orchestra. He met JoAnn (Jody) Farrington at Syracuse Lake (Indiana) in 1952 at a Nappanee H.S. Band Boosters Picnic. Jody had just graduated from high school and Larry was just about to leave for the Army near the end of the Korean War. Their courtship continued through letters and reunions with friends and family at Lake Wawasee in Northern Indiana where Larry’s parents had a cottage. During the Korean conflict, Larry served as a weapons instructor, a clerk-typist, and as an army bandsman (Ft. Gordon and Ft. Benning, Georgia). After his discharge from the army, Larry wanted to be near JoAnn so he took a job at Mutschler Kitchens in Nappanee, Indiana. Marie Farrington (Krauter), JoAnn’s mother, suggested he look for work in the music industry and soon he was hired by C. G. Conn as a school-service specialist. This was the beginning of a 42-year-career in the music industry. He told JoAnn that he was successful as a music salesman because it was easy to sell something you valued, and he definitely valued music and music education.

After he married JoAnn on March 31, 1956 in Nappanee, Indiana, they moved to Elkhart where Larry worked for the Conn Retail Store. Conn used to have retail stores all over the country, and the Elkhart store was the last one to be phased out. Sons Mark and Thomas were born in Elkhart. Mark was born (1957) while the Priest family lived in an apartment on Vistula Street. Thomas was born (1959) while they lived in a large house on East Jackson. Grandma Priest (Colonel) lived upstairs. When the Conn Retail Store in Elkhart was phased out, Harold Conant (former Conn Retail Store manager in Elkhart) opened "Harold's Music" at the corner of Colfax & Main Streets in South Bend. In order for Larry to be closer to his work location, the Priest family moved to South Bend. Daughter Gretchen was born in 1961 and daughter Sarah was born in 1972. Jody reported that Larry worked for "Harold's Music" for 10 years. Larry began to work for Bob Welty of Blessing’s Music in Elkhart and later purchased the business with partner Larry Shafer. He sold the business and retired in 1998.

Larry played with the South Bend Symphony, the Elkhart Symphony, the Elkhart Municipal Band, and the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Twin Cities Symphony. As a professional doubler, he played in the pit orchestra for numerous musical theatre productions including a Merrick Company production of "Hello Dolly" starring Betty Grable.

Always interested in outdoor activities, he took the family on many excellent adventures. These included camping, canoeing, sailing, hiking, bicycling, and skiing. He believed that you create your own life and that your life is as rewarding as you make it. He would say that if you don’t like snow, you should take up skiing. He taught his children that you basically need to find a vocation that you can’t wait to begin when you get up in the morning. He believed that one should strive to play at work and work at play. He generously provided his children with the means to pursue their passions and for this they are grateful.

Larry is survived by his wife: JoAnn Priest of Rosemount, Minnesota; his children: Mark Priest of Orlando, Florida; Thomas Priest (Diana) of Ogden, Utah; Gretchen Priest-May (Tim) of Nashville, Tennessee; and Sarah Priest Lockwood (Travis) of Hastings, Minnesota, and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Larry’s life will be celebrated on Saturday, October 29,  2022 at 11:00 AM at Evangel Heights United Methodist Church, 114 North Ironwood Drive, South Bend, Indiana. The service will be live-streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXg3o9H-OIln548SY4TWLQ. A one hour visitation will begin at 10:00 AM. A graveside service in Nappanee will follow the Celebration of Life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the South Bend Symphony or the Potawatomi Zoo, payable to Raymond James, indicating the designated organization on the memo line. Mail to: Raymond James, In Memory of Loren Priest, 4215 Edison Lakes Parkway, Ste. 300 Mishawaka, IN 46545. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.

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