Larson, Helen M. 1940 - 2014
LARSON, TAKLE
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 9/4/2014 at 15:38:10
Helen M. Larson, age 74, of Wausau, Wis., and Decorah, Iowa, died Sunday, August 31, 2014, in Chetek, Wisconsin.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, September 6, 2014 at the Highland Lutheran Church, 3824 Highlandville Road, outside of Decorah, Iowa, with the Rev. Ron Fretheim officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Lutheran Church Cemetery immediately following the service.
There will be a visitation beginning at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, one hour before the service, at Highland Lutheran Church. A reception will be held at the church following the services. There will also be a visitation from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday, September 5, at the Brainard Funeral Home, 522 Adams Street, in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Helen was born on April 6, 1940, in Winneshiek County, Iowa, the daughter of Alma B. (Takle) and Norris O. Larson. Both preceded her in death. Helen grew up as a farm girl and attended a one-room rural school in Highland township, followed by her high school years at the Decorah High School in Decorah, Iowa, where she graduated in 1957. During her high school years, Helen was the news editor of the student newspaper, the Dynamo. The staff was made of up of readers and writers, a group of renegades who wrote whatever they felt like.
She continued her studies at Luther College in Decorah, graduating in 1961 as part of the centennial class.
Helen began her professional career as a Latin teacher at the Wisconsin Rapids High School. After receiving her Master’s Degree at UW-Stout in 1969, Helen began her long relationship as a health occupations counselor at the Northcentral Technical College in Wausau, passionately guiding and assisting thousands of students through their educational and professional journeys. She retired in 2003.
Though Helen retired from her professional career, she did not retire from her life filled with friends, family, events, holidays, celebrations, travel, games, and learning. Helen was an avid reader and loved to collect autographed books. She actively followed her favorite teams, the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers. She was a fixture at Camp Randall Stadium for home games (and many bowl games) and enjoyed the tailgating behind Budget Bicycle on Regent Street with her Badger football gang.
Helen’s enjoyment of life can be measured by the people she loved and cared for, her dear friends, neighbors and family. Whether it was golfing or bowling with her colleagues and friends, attending weddings or birthday parties, Helen was always there with her good cheer. It is a testament to her faith and friendship that Helen was the sponsor at many baptisms, being the godmother to many people, and being a soloist at many weddings and funerals.
Whether it was through her Kentucky Derby party, or her annual “bridge” party, or her monthly luncheon with high school classmates, or her holiday meals with family, Helen was a devoted and cherished friend and family member. Helen was a good and honest soul, but one who also enjoyed good humor and taking adventures, as long as she was the one who was doing the driving.
Helen is survived by godchildren, cousins and many, many friends. Helen greatly enjoyed her many decades in Wausau with all of the great neighbors, colleagues and friends. But, it was her family century farm and home church, Highland Lutheran Church, in Winneshiek County, Iowa, that always called her back to her Norwegian roots. This Saturday, September 6, Helen will be called back one final time.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Highland Lutheran Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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