Ann McBride (Baur) Larson (2014)

LARSON, BAUR, GUTZ, JACKSON, TILLOTSON

Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 4/28/2014 at 16:46:43

Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa
April 28, 2014

Ann Baur Larson
Des Moines, formerly of Minneapolis

Ann McBride (Baur) Larson died on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. Visitation and memorial service will be held at Iles Dunn Chapel, Des Moines, Iowa, with visitation on Wednesday, April 30, at 5-7 pm, and the memorial service celebrating Ann's life held on Thursday, May 1, at 10:30 a.m. Private interment will occur at Jefferson Township Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa.

The daughter of Edward and Lorraine (Gutz) Baur, Ann was born on April 18, 1937, in Des Moines, Iowa, the second of three children. In 1955 she graduated from Winterset High School, and in 1959 she received a bachelor's degree in food science from Iowa State University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. After graduating, Ann worked in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at Pillsbury Foods in the junior home service department. She went on to earn an education degree from Macalester College.

Ann met Jim Larson through mutual friends, and they were married on Dec. 28, 1962, at the Baur family farm in Madison County. The couple made their home near Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis and had two children.

While raising her family Ann continued her food career, testing recipes for the industry and medical organizations. Her test kitchen was often in the family home, and her children were the (mostly) happy test subjects. Ann was also a passionate and dedicated elementary school teacher in Minneapolis Public Schools, and later an ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor. She taught adult ESL classes until she was in her seventies, when she moved to Des Moines to be closer to her family.

Ann was a member of PEO and an avid antiquer, and her home was decorated with many treasures. She also enjoyed boating with her husband on the St. Croix River and Lake Minnetonka. In addition, she was a devoted Christian and attended Central Lutheran Church and later Victory Christian Church, both in Minneapolis. She put God first in her life and dearly loved her family, especially her grandchildren and the precious time spent with them in Minnesota, Alaska, and Des Moines.

Ann was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Lorraine Baur. She is survived by her loving family, including two children, Jay Larson (Angie) of Wasilla, Alaska, and Theresa Jackson (Randy) of Des Moines; siblings Karla Tillotson (Drew) and Robert Baur (Caroline), six grandchildren, Nicholas and Eleanor Jackson of Des Moines and Madeline, McKinley, Max and Miles Larson of Wasilla, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, all who will fondly recall her joyous, and loving nature.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ann Larson Memorial Fund.