Larsen, James M. 1930-2007

LARSEN, LONGSETH, PECHAN, SMITH

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 1/16/2015 at 22:05:21

Source: Sioux Center News (7-4-2007)

Born: February 11, 1930
Died: June 26, 2007

James Martin Larsen, 77, of Maurice died Tuesday, June 26, 2007, at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Memorial services will be 2 P.M. Saturday at United Methodist Church in Ireton, Iowa, with the Reverend Tim Walker officiating. Burial of the cremated remains will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be after 1 P.M. Friday, with the family present at 6 P.M. a prayer service at 7 P.M. followed by visitation and refreshments with the family present until 8 P.M., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Porter Funeral Home in Ireton, Iowa.

Jim was born February 11, 1930, in rural Wyoming Valley, Wisconsin to Robert and Golda (Longseth) Larsen. He attended country school and graduated from Spring Green High School.

He married his high school sweetheart, Loretta Pechan on March 27, 1951. They made their home near Highland, Wisconsin, until moving to Maurice in 1969. He lost his wife to cancer in 1986.

He married Joyce Smith on May 16, 1987, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hawarden, Iowa. They made their home in Maurice. He farmed, was a mason, a service man for Harvestor Inc. and owned and operated Larsen Construction. He was a trucker for various companies before retiring from Vogel Paints. He worked at Farmer’s Co-op in Ireton, Iowa, after retirement.

He was a member of Wyoming Valley Methodist Church, later transferring to the Ireton United Methodist Church. He loved being and visiting with family and friends and being called Grandpa Jim. He also loved playing ball, hunting and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce; three sons, Jerry and Helen and Tim and Cindy, all of Maurice, and Matt and Ann of Boulder, Colorado; three daughters, Sue and Doug Houlton of Ireton. Cindy Larsen of Orange City, Iowa, and Lori (Larsen) and Kris Scoot of Longmont, Colorado; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three great-step grandchildren; his stepchildren, Elise and James Sailer of Schleswig, Iowa, Dianne Boger and special friend, Dan Hinkle of Manhattan, Kansas, Rita Vander Feen and fiancé, Mark Sorlie and Joe and Cheryl Smith, all of Hawarden, Iowa; 12 step grandchildren; six great-step grandchildren; two brothers, Robert and Joy Larsen and Evan Larsen; and two sisters, Grace Larsen and Barb Larsen, all of Wisconsin.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Gloria and Fred Andrews and Joyce and Robert McReynolds; his wife Loretta; a granddaughter, Michelle Larsen; and a sister-in-law, Donna Larsen.