LARSON, Lawrence J. 1922-2002

LARSON, MADSEN, LUNDSTROM

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 1/24/2009 at 21:09:35

Lawrence J. Larson

Lawrence J. Larson, 79, of 609 South Jackson St. in Charles City, died Wednesday, April 17, 2002, at Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa in Mason City. Funeral services for Lawrence J. Larson will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Charles City. The Rev. Dianne Christopher, pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Sunnyside Memory Gardens in rural Charles City. The Charles City Ceremonial Unit will conduct military honors. Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 5 to 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 5 to 7:00 p.m. today, Friday, April 19, with additional public visitation from 9 to 10:30 am on Saturday. Visitation will continue at the church an hour prior to service.

Lawrence J. Larson was born July 31, 1922, in Milaca, Minn., the son of Joseph and Naomi (Lundstrom) Larson. Following graduation from Watertown, S.D., he joined the SD National Guard for the 34th Signal Company which was later activated. He served his country in the United States Army as a chief telegraph operator in Ireland, North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. Following his honorable discharge he continued his educational career at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

On June 9, 1946, he was united in marriage to Mildred Madsen in Watertown. They made their home in Lincoln, Neb. and then Brookings, S.D., where he attended South Dakota State University graduating with a bachelor of science degree in 1949.

Upon graduation they moved to Pierre, S.D., where he started his career in the microbiology field working at the State Health Laboratory. He subsequently received an M.S. in Microbiology in 1961 from S.D.S.U. In 1963, they moved to Charles City to work for the Salsbury Laboratory until completing his microbiology career in 1975. Lawrence went on to deliver mail as a rural carrier until retirement in 1984. In retirement Lawrence and Mildred were avid travelers, enjoying many different destinations. He was also an avid history buff with a very sharp memory and fondness of details, and a member of both the American Legion and Trinity United Methodist Church.

He will be greatly missed by those that knew and loved him including his wife, Mildred Larson of Charles City; son, David Larson and wife Vicki of Cedar Falls and their children: Keri, Lori, and Dana; son, Roger Larson and wife Nadine of Nevada with their son Kristian and wife Christy; daughter, Colleen Kehret and husband Dale of Charles City with their children Dan and Kelly; one great-grandaugher, Alexys; two sisters of Rochester, Minn., Jean Dunn and husband Rev. Merle and Ruth Rieke and husband Dwight; a sister, Beattie St.Angelo and husband Gordon of Indianapolis, Ind.; many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a niece, Marcia Dunn.

The family suggests that memorials be directed to the Lawrence J. Larson Memorial Fund for a charity of the family's choice.

Hauser Funeral Home of Charles City is in charge of arrangements.