Doris E. (Veit) Larson 1914 - 2006

LARSON, VEIT, FRY, SMITH, SCARFF

Posted By: Errin Wilker (email)
Date: 12/9/2006 at 12:31:16

Doris E. Larson, 92, of Cedar Rapids, died Wednesday, November 29, 2006, at Manor Care following a short illness. Services at 10 AM Monday at St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Rev. Lloyd Brockmeyer will officiate. Graveside services and burial at 3 PM Monday at Oak Hill Cemetery, rural Lansing, Iowa. Friends may call at Cedar Memorial Funeral Home from 3 to 5 PM on Sunday and at the church after 9 AM on Monday.

Survivors include two daughters, Greer Fry and husband Richard of Cedar Rapids, and Solveig Smith, Eagle, Idaho, four sons, Lars and wife jean of Fairfax, Virginia, Peter and wife Kristen of Cedar Rapids, John and wife Celeste of Plano, Texas, and Sven and wife Carol of Cedar Rapids, a sister Sally Scarff of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, a brother Charles Veit of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 18 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Her husband Ira E. Larson preceded her in death.

Doris was born October 26, 1914, in Lansing, Iowa, to Charles and Alvina Veit. She graduated from Lansing high School in 1932. She received her teaching certificate (1936), B.A. (1944, and Master's Degree in Education (1965) from Iowa State Teacher's College (UNI).

Doris held teaching positions in Whitten, Eldora, Lansing, Osage, Little Cedar, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In addition to her teaching duties she served as principal at Lansing and Little Cedar. She married Ira E. Larson, September 30, 1944, in Shreveport, Louisiana. They had been classmates since the third grade and were high school sweethearts. Doris' life was devoted to her family and teaching. After her youngest child was in school, she returned to teaching and taught special education in Osage and lower elementary at the original Jackson and Polk Elementary Schools in Cedar Rapids. Retiring at age 70, Doris remained active in education by tutoring students in her home.

Her entire life was spent motivating children to learn and to value the importance of education.

In her retirement years she was a charter member of the New Horizons Band serving as publicity chairperson as well as playing trumpet. After losing her sight to macular degeneration in 2003 she continued her involvement with the band as a member of the percussion section.

Doris remained active after retiring delivering the Cedar Rapids Gazette and regularly attending exercise classes at Witwer Senior Center.

She was proud to be an American, a Republican, and a loyal supporter of the American military.

Doris was a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, a member of Retired Officers Association (ROA), Retired Teacher's Association, and the Bethany Luther Church group for Visually Impaired Persons (V.I.P.).

After losing her sight, Doris and her pets remained in her home with the help of family, neighbors, friends, and caretakers. She lived her life through her faith and with determination. She was unwavering in her support and encouragement to both children and adults to do their very best.

Instead of flowers, the family encourages memorials be made to the New Horizons Band of Cedar Rapids, St. Paul's United Methodist Church, The Kirkwood Foundation-The Ira E. Larson Fine Arts Scholarship Fund, or the Witwer Senior Center.

Source: Waukon Standard ~ December 6, 2006