ANDERSON — After spending more than three weeks in the hospital following being struck by a person driving a truck, Larry VanNess, known lovingly as "The Can Man" in Anderson has died, according to a social media post by his caregiver.
Landers posted to Facebook: "While we mourn the loss of our dear friend, we also must remember him as the happy and loving man that he became and celebrate the life he led, the difficulties he overcame and the accomplishments that he achieved right up to the time of his accident."
VanNess was hospitalized on October 2 after being hit by a truck. Anderson Police tell WRTV the investigation into the crash is complete and no charges will be filed.
The Can Man was known throughout Anderson and Madison County for his giving nature.
For 19 years, VanNess had been collecting pop tabs around Anderson. He donated nearly 27 million tabs to the Ronald McDonald House – raising nearly $12,500.
“He made the tabs his life mission,” Landers said.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana shared the following statement on their Facebook page:
The staff and volunteers at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana are heartbroken at the news of the passing of Larry "The Can Man" VanNess. He was a good friend of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana for nearly 20 years. He was our most well-known and beloved pop tab collector and advocate, having collected more than 27 million tabs, every single one of which he personally counted by hand. Larry may not have had children of his own, but he cared deeply about the mission of RMHCCIN and the people it served and often shared that collecting pop tabs gave him purpose. We are heartbroken over the loss of our very near and dear friend. Our team is working hard to find a way to properly memorialize his memory and will share more once those details are finalized.
Funeral arrangements will be announced on his Facebook page once they are made.
-
Indiana Fever's Kelsey Mitchell selected for WNBA All-Star Game
Mitchell joins teammates Caitlin Clark, who has been tapped to be a captain, and Aliyah Boston, who has been named a starter, making it three players representing the Fever.
Caddying for college: Local teen earns life-changing scholarship
One prestigious program is helping students pay for college, including for one Indy high school grad who caddied her way to a full-ride scholarship.
2 shot, 1 killed on near northeast side of Indianapolis
INDIANAPOLIS — A double shooting on the near northeast side of Indianapolis early Sunday morning has left one person dead, according to police.
Azura Stevens' double-double lifts Sparks over Fever 89-87
The Los Angeles Sparks won at Indianapolis for the second time in nine days, defeating the Fever, minus Caitlin Clark, 89-87 on Saturday night.
