Obituary of Larry Lee Thirstrup M.D.

Larry Lee Thirstrup, M.D., age 85, a retired physician of Slidell, Louisiana, passed away on August 9, 2026. He was born on July 24, 1941. Known fondly to his friends and patients as “Dr. Larry,” he was born in Sioux City, Iowa, and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He graduated from Washington High School, where he starred and lettered in basketball and track and field.

He went on to attend South Dakota State University, playing basketball as one of the legendary “South Dakota 5” in the 1961 NCAA Final Four.

He was commissioned as an officer in the United States Army in 1963, serving as a second lieutenant during the Vietnam era while stationed at Fort Hood. There, he met his wife, Emily, who worked at the USO, and they married in October 1964.

While serving at Fort Hood, Larry earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Texas at Austin. His thesis was based on his innovative joint excitability training protocols aimed at injury prevention and increasing athletic speed and endurance.

He went on to become a college track and field coach and an associate professor of exercise physiology and golf at Fort Hays State in Kansas, where he also served as a consulting trainer for the Kansas City Chiefs.

He later obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree, completing a fellowship in sports medicine at Loma Linda University and a residency in emergency medicine at LSU. During his medical career, he practiced emergency medicine at hospitals in Louisiana and Texas and served as an associate professor of emergency medicine at LSU Shreveport.

Dr. Larry developed and served as the medical director of the Slidell Memorial Hospital Sports Medicine Center. He later co-founded and served as medical director for the Wellness Aerobic and Sports Medicine Center in Slidell. Later in his career, he practiced sports medicine and spine injury pain management until his retirement.

He maintained his officer’s commission in the U.S. Army, serving during Operation Desert Storm while stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He eventually retired from the Army Reserve at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

An avid exercise proponent and a competitive racquetball player in regional tournaments, Larry loved tending to his garden and constantly challenged his friends to lead active lifestyles. He wrote the foreword to the exercise science textbook Physical Fitness: The Pathway to Healthful Living. Throughout his career, he lobbied industry and government leaders to advance injury prevention, rehabilitation science, and medical best practices.

Larry cherished spending time with his family and friends and visiting with fellow church members on Sundays at Christ Episcopal Church in Slidell. He was a passionate fan of college and professional athletics with an encyclopedic knowledge of player histories and statistics. He loved attending LSU and Saints games with his friends, especially enjoying the tailgating parties.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Emily; his parents, Jens and Lavonne Thirstrup; and his brother, Jerry Thirstrup. He is survived by his sisters, Judy Churchwell and Connie Thirstrup; his children, Robert Thirstrup (wife Wendi, and their children—his granddaughters—Lauren, Caroline, and Rachel), Larry Thirstrup, M.D., and Marcus Thirstrup.

Dr. Larry’s sons have built upon his legacy of preventive health, injury rehabilitation, and human performance, with each currently working in the health and wellness professions.