Michael Latta

Michael C. Latta, 76, passed away after a lengthy illness on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Simpson Health Center, Friendship Haven.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, February 13, 2026 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Monsignor Kevin McCoy as celebrant. Burial will follow at Corpus Christi Cemetery. There will be a visitation from 4:00-7:00 PM, Thursday, February 12, 2026 at Laufersweiler Funeral Home.

Mike is survived by his wife JoAnn and children Anthony Latta of Waterloo, Claire Latta of Fort Dodge, sister Jackie (Wayne) Fullenkamp of West Des Moines and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Claire and Charlotte Latta and sister Christine McKenna and her husband Mike.

Mike Latta was born on January 1, 1950 in Carroll, Iowa. He graduated from Ames High School in 1968 and from the University of Northern Iowa in 1974 with a degree in Business Education. On November 4, 1989, he was united in marriage to JoAnn Gargano in Fort Dodge where the couple made their home.

Mike worked his entire career in the field of education, both teaching and coaching. He began teaching Business Education at Woodbury Central in 1974, followed by St. Edmond High School, Fort Dodge Senior High, Prairie Valley (Tech Coordinator) and Webster City High School, retiring from high school education in 2012 from Webster City. Even in retirement, Mike taught Adult Education classes at night at Iowa Central Community College from 2013-2020.

A lifelong fan of the Iowa State Cyclones, Mike rarely missed a televised game. Even at Friendship Haven you could hear his TV broadcasting Cyclone games. A dedicated and loving father, everyone knew that Mike and JoAnn would always be found at their children's activities. Mike was an avid runner, walker and bicyclist. He competed in several biathlons and marathons including the Drake Relays Marathon and the Minneapolis Marathon; he also biked in various legs of RAGBRAI. Mike thoroughly enjoyed reading and would frequent the Fort Dodge Public Library often. A talent that he developed and relished after retirement was trip planning. He and JoAnn took many trips around the United States until he was no longer able to do so.

The Latta family would like to thank the Terrace View staff at Friendship Haven and Unity Point Hospice for their kind, compassionate and efficient care of Mike.

Memorials may be left to Holy Trinity Food Pantry, Holy Trinity Parish, the Sisters of the Presentation of Dubuque, or to the Friends of the Library. "I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith". (2 Timothy 4:7-8)