Larsen, Anita D. (1942-2016)
LARSEN, WITZKE, GUSTAFSON, JIRGENS, DEGNER
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 7/16/2016 at 09:51:24
Anita D. Larsen
December 29, 1942 - May 28, 2016Anita Donice Larsen, 73, of West Des Moines, Iowa, passed away on May 28, 2016.
Born on December 29, 1942, in Hastings, Nebraska, to Donald S. and Zelda L. (Witzke) Larsen, she attended Newell-Providence School, graduating in 1960. On August 25, 1963, she married Brian Gustafson. In 1967, she graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree from Buena Vista College and then went on to earn a master's degree at Drake University while teaching English and speech at a Des Moines, Iowa, high school. Next, she lectured at Drake University's theater and English departments.
From 1984 to 1992, Ms. Larsen taught at the Institute of Children's Literature. She wrote articles for Ranger Rick, Publisher's Weekly, Bookfinders, and Kirkus Reviews as well as a review column for The Des Moines Register. In addition, she worked as an editor for the Iowa State University Press, Wallace-Homestead Book Company, High Mountain Press, Greenhaven Books, Crestwood House, and more.
In addition to numerous magazine articles for adults and children, Anita Larsen published seventeen books of fiction or fact for all readers, writing as Anita Larsen, Anita Gustafson, and Dana White. Two of her books, Guilty or Innocent? (1986) and Some Feet Have Noses (1983), were voted as American Library Association Notable Books. Selected as an Outstanding Science Trade Book by the Children's Book Council, Some Feet Have Noses became a Junior Literary Guild selection as well.
The juvenile books critic for the Sunday Des Moines Register for twenty years, she wrote a monthly column that also appeared in the Sunday arts editions of other major newspapers across the nation including The Seattle Times, The Denver Post, The Orlando Sentinel, and the San Antonio Express-News among others. Moreover, she taught on the university and secondary levels and served as an Artist-in-the-Classroom and a Solo Artist for the Iowa State Arts Council. In addition, she conducted writing workshops and became a frequent speaker in the area of children’s literature.
Her theatrical scripts for adults and children were published as well as produced at several theaters including the American Shakespeare Theatre (Stratford, CT) and the Dallas Theater Center. She scripted projects in all media for Fortune 500 companies that ranged from marketing to employee recruitment, special events to corporate image, and she published educational programs for children and training programs for adults.
An award-winning stage actress, she worked successfully on camera and as voice talent for products, personages, and services for the Girl Scouts of America as well as for a former Iowa governor among others.
Besides West Des Moines, Anita lived in several cities including Des Moines, Iowa, St. Paul, Minnesota, Albuquerque and Taos, New Mexico, and Laurens, Iowa. Forever an actress, writer, editor, playwright, and book critic, she, also, loved art, nature, wildlife, her family, and her dogs.
Preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Zelda Larsen, she is survived by her sisters, Lois (Karl) Jirgens, of Laurens, and Ellen (David) Degner, Sr., of Newell, as well as by several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends
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