Larry "Joe" Tosh, 84, Westcliffe, CO, passed away Wednesday, October 16, 2024 in Pueblo, CO. He was born July 22, 1940 in Valley Falls, KS, the son of Cecil and Luella (White) Tosh.

Joe graduated from Atchison County Community High School in Effingham, KS. He spent 33 years from 1940 – 1973 in Valley Falls, KS. He had brief residencies in Cody, WY, Pueblo, CO, Kemmerer, WY, Topeka, KS, La Junta, CO, and Albuquerque, NM. He then made his final homestead in Rosita/Westcliffe, CO beginning in 2002.

In his early years, Joe farmed with his father, Cecil, in Valley Falls, KS until 1961. His early work history began in Wyoming before making his way back to Valley Falls, KS to work at the Jack Reichart Elevator from 1963 – 1969. In 1969, he began his lifetime career at Santa Fe/BNSF Railroad as a Communications Technician Apprentice. He quickly gained respect and found success, moving through the ranks to Project Manager before retiring as a Senior Communications Supervisor in 2002.

He was a former member of the Valley Falls United Methodist Church, All Aboard Westcliffe, Santa Fe History and Modeling Society, and Morse Telegraph Club.

Joe married Sherry Erickson on October 7, 1978 in Kemmerer, WY; they celebrated over 46 years of marriage. He had previously been married to Janet (Reid) Straub from 1961 – 1973 in Atchison, KS. They had two children together.

Survivors include his wife, Sherry of the home; 4 children, Kelly A. Herron (Chris) of Topeka, KS, Clinton A. Tosh (Jill) of Topeka, KS, Kelly L. Morris (Jeff Oldenburg) of Trevor, WI and Kimberly D. Keaveny (James) of Burns, TN; 8 grandchildren, Jaimie Swanepoel (Louis) of DeSoto, KS, Amanda Morris (Scott Beatovic) of Mukwonago, WI, Stephanie Wallis (Dylan) of Sacramento, CA, Emily Eaton (Brent) of Snohomish, WA, Alyssa Drake (Trevor) of Stevens Point, WI, Andrew LePlatt (Julie) of Easley, SC, Patton LePlatt of Burns, TN and Sheridan LePlatt (Grant Taylor) of Columbia, SC; 2 great-grandchildren, Amelia Swanepoel of DeSoto, KS and Archer Wallis of Sacramento, CA and sister, Sue Manthe of Topeka, KS.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Luella Tosh; 2 sisters, Melva Bowie and Barbara Goodrich and 4 brothers, Donald, Loren, Millard and Harold Tosh.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 A.M. Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton, KS. Burial will follow at the Valley Falls Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 5-7 P.M. Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Memorials may be given to the Morse Telegraph Club or All Aboard Westcliffe c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436.