Larry Allen Tronstad

Larry Allen Tronstad died surrounded by family on January 3, 2026, after a courageous fight against cancer. He was 78. His gentle nature, witty sense of humor, and reliable character will be forever in our hearts.

Larry was born to Uarda and Raymond Tronstad in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on July 11, 1947, the youngest of five siblings. In 1953, Larry’s family moved to Napa, where Larry attended local schools, graduating from Napa High School in 1965. After high school, he attended Napa Junior College and transferred to San Francisco State University, graduating in 1969 with a degree in industrial technology. All through school, Larry was a talented athlete, playing track and field, football, basketball, and baseball, at which he excelled as a natural-born pitcher.

Larry met Dianne Vigo when they were 15-year-old sophomores at Silverado Junior High in December 1962. He approached her one day, introduced himself, and asked to carry her books to class. She accepted and so began a lifelong love. They married on June 22, 1968, in Napa and soon moved to San Francisco where they lived for a year while Larry finished his degree.

After graduating from SFSU, Larry and Dianne moved back to Napa. Their daughter, Jennifer, was born in 1971, and their son, Michael, came along almost two years to the day later in 1973. Larry began working at Slinsen Construction Company as a laborer when Michael was a newborn. It was arduous work, but he enjoyed being able to spend winters at home with his family, even if that meant doing without. He soon became an equipment operator and then an estimator. Larry took over the company from his brother, Ken, in 1992 and retired in 2004.

Larry had a lifelong love of fishing and often took his family on day trips to Lake Berryessa and weekend trips to Truckee. Later, he and Michael enjoyed trips to Clear Lake, the Sacramento and Smith Rivers, and Oregon and Alaska. In his retirement, Larry also enjoyed golfing, landscaping his yard and making home improvements, and traveling. His favorite place to go was Hawaii.

Larry was predeceased by his mother and father, Uarda and Raymond, sister, Barbara, and brothers, Gordon and Ken. He is survived by his wife, Dianne, daughter, Jennifer, son, Michael (Kerry), grandchildren, Katelyn and Joseph, his dear sister, Nancy Malone, and his loyal sidekick, Lucy, who stayed with him day and night during his illness.

A private celebration of life will be held later this spring. In lieu of flowers, Larry would have liked donations to be sent to an animal rescue organization or charity of your choice.

Condolences and words of sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.tulocaycemetery.org.

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