Oscar D. Larson (1902-1966) Alternate

KESSNER, LARSON, LYNCH, SCHEPPLER, STOCKDALE

Posted By: Eileen Reed
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:42

The Wright County Monitor
Clarion, Iowa
Thursday, December 8, 1966
Page 1, Column 2

Oscar Larson, 64, a well-known breeder of Poland China hogs, died unexpectedly at his farm home Sunday evening.

Surviving are his wife, the former Irene Scheppler; two sons, Rodney, Webster City, and John O., Eagle Grove; a niece, Mrs. Robert Kessner, O'Fallon, Ill., raised in the Larson home; and three sisters, Miss Catherine [Kathryn] Larson, Rochester. Minnesota; Mrs. Leo Lynch, Clarion, and Mrs. Laurence Stockdale, Eagle Grove.

Funeral services were held Wednesday at two o'clock at First Lutheran church in Clarion with Rev. R. Larson officiating. Burial was in Evergreen cemetery. The Eyler Funeral Home was in charge.

__________

The Wright County Monitor
Clarion, Iowa
Thursday, December 15, 1966
Page 1, Columns 1 & 2

Funeral services for Oscar D. Larson, 64, formerly of Wright County were held Wednesday afternoon, December 7, 1966, at the First Lutheran Church in Clarion with Rev. Richard A. Larson officiating.

The organist, Wayne Ebert, accompanied Don Missal, who sang "Beautiful Savior" and "Softly and Tenderly", and the congregation, who sang "Beneath the Cross of Jesus."

Honorary pallbearers were Arthur Lueck, Arnold Flessnor, Ralph Borel, Alvin Peterson and N. B. Anderson, pallbearers were Arnold Odland, Bob L. Brim, Edwin Anfinson, Clarence Larson, Don Spangler and Robert Wilson. Interment was in the Clarion Evergreen cemetery.

Mr. Larson died Sunday evening, Dec. 4 at his farm home northeast of Webster City in Cass township.

Oscar D. Larson, son of Ole and Tillie Larson, was born Jan. 20, 1902 in Leland, Ill. He came to Iowa at the age of three, settling with his parents in Lake township in Wright County. He received his education in Wright County and was confirmed in the First Lutheran church in Clarion, where he was an active member and was serving his sixth year as a deacon. He has been a past president of his church.

He was united in marriage September 7, 1927 to Hazel Irene Scheppler and the couple resided in the Clarion vicinity, until 1950 when they moved to a farm northeast of Webster City. His health has been failing since he suffered a farm accident five years ago.

He was engaged in farming and devoted 40 years of his life to the improvement of the Poland China Swine Industry. During this time, he became nationally recognized. Among the highlights was being one of the three judges at the National Spot Light Show in Cedar Rapids in 1955. At this time the "Poland China World," a magazine for hog breeders said of Mr. Larson, "Few men in the breed have a clearer concept of what they are looking for in breeding stock, and have been more successful in reflecting that concept in the animals, they have bred. Their firmness of fleshy, meatiness and style are almost a Larson trademark."

His herd Sire "Designer" wrote breed history and became one of the most noted sires of the 1950's.

Oscar accomplished something previously unheard of by breeding and showing both "Jr. Champions" for two years in a row at the Iowa State Fair in 1954-55. He had served as a Director and President of the Poland China Association.

Oscar purchased the #1 sow in the Iowa State Sale this winter 1966 for his granddaughter's 4-H project. He had planned to encourage each grandchild in the same way as each child became old enough for a 4-H project.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, Darrell Rodney Larson, Webster City and John O. Larson, Eagle Grove, a niece, Mrs. Robert Kessner, whom he loved as a daughter; three sisters, Mrs. Leo (Olga) Lynch of Clarion, Miss Kathryn Larson, Rochester, Minn., and Mrs. Lawrence (Mary) Stockdale, Eagle Grove and seven grandchildren.