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In memory of
Larry Gene Burggraf
June 12, 1947 - March 29, 2021
Jun 12, 1947 - Mar 29, 2021
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Larry's obituary
Larry was born on June 12, 1947 to Lola (Hodge) and Edward Burggraf in Miami, Oklahoma. Although he was born in Miami, or “Miama,” as the locals say, he actually grew up in Quapaw, Oklahoma. The small town would have a profound impact on young Larry’s life. U.S. Route 66 ran through it; making it the perfect location for a growing tire business. Larry’s father Edward started a tire service shop in the 1930s when he began retreading, or recapping, tires. The company expanded into one of the largest tire-capping plants in Oklahoma until a fire destroyed it in 1964. The Burggrafs decided to rebuild their business with a large wholesale warehouse in Quapaw, which at one point was considered the world’s largest independently-owned tire distributor.
Larry brought his family to Kansas City, Missouri in 1975 when he expanded the Burggraf Tires business. He operated multiple locations including one off Southwest Boulevard next to Manny’s Mexican Restaurant and another location off Blue Ridge in Independence, Missouri.
A born salesman, Larry always kept an eye open for new ways to make money. In 1979, he zeroed in on a growing trend and opened the area’s first tanning salon off 95th and Nall. By 1981, Larry branched out on his own and started Burggraf Independent Tires.
He opened what would become his final business in 1989, Larry’s Wholesale Tire Warehouse & Auto Repair at 80th and Wornall. Although small in square footage, it became a home away from home for Larry and many of his friends, business partners and employees. Walk through that door and you were in for a damn good deal and a story about the good ol’ days, if you were lucky.
When Larry opened that shop, he probably had no idea that it would eventually lead him to the love of his life. Always appreciative of a good meal, he could walk out the door and in minutes be at one of the most authentic German restaurants in Kansas City, The Berliner Bear. In between the sauerbraten, pig knuckles and German chocolate cake, something sparked between Larry and waitress Gloria Womack, whose parents owned and operated the restaurant. The couple married in Las Vegas on March 15, 1987.
In 2010, he revisited an old passion and bought a motorcycle. He and Gloria spent many hours riding across America visiting places like Padre Island, the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, the Badlands, Lucas Oil Speedway and Eureka Springs, Arkansas. After a lifetime of buying and selling, the motorcycle gave Larry a new lease on life.
Larry believed in hard work. He was at his shop nearly every day until about three months before his passing. As he used to say, “We don’t stop for wood, water or coal. Come morning, we’re going to be moving so fast, I’m going to throw water on the floor to keep our shoes from catching fire.”
Larry is survived by his wife, Gloria Burggraf; four children, Cindy Dison, Larry "Rusty" Burggraf Jr., Tasha Owens, and Philip Burggraf; one sister, Carol Jones; six grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
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In lieu of flowers
Please consider a gift to American Cancer Society.
$465.00
Raised by 5 people
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In lieu of flowers
Please consider a gift to American Cancer Society.
$465.00
Raised by 5 people
Recent contributions
Recent contributions
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Share your sympathy. Send flowers from a local florist to Larry's family or funeral.
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Created with love by
Philip Burggraf (Larry's son).
