Larry R. Larson, 79, Junction City, KS. passed
away on Monday, July 19, 2021 at Geary Community Hospital. Cremation has
taken place per Mr. Larsons wish. A memorial service will be held 11
a.m. Saturday, August 7, 2021 at First Christian Church 1429 St. Mary's
Road Junction City, KS. Pastor Ronnie Roberts will officiate. The family
will receive friends and relatives one hour prior to the service. A
reception will follow the memorial service at the church. Inurnment will
be held following the reception in Liberty Cemetery near Alida, KS.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Chapman High School Art
Department.
Larry is survived by his wife, Nancy; two sons, Kirk
Larson (Brooke) of Mooresville, IN and Roderick Larson of Kansas City,
MO; a daughter, Robyn Brumfield of Ft. Worth, TX; five grandchildren,
Kinsey Larson, Josephine Larson, Ezra Brumfield, Taylor Larson and Eden
Brumfield; and many nieces, nephews and extended family. Larry was
preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers, Eric, Earl, Eugene,
Harvey, Norman, Everett and Vernon Larson; and a sister Reva Hostetler.
Born
June 30, 1942, the youngest of 9 children to Henry August and Hazel
Rundle Glenn Larson originally of the Wakefield, Kansas area. Larry
attended rural schools and graduated from Dickinson County Community
High School in Chapman, Kansas. He was a graduate of Fort Hays State
University where he was a member of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity, serving
as Social Chairman and Commissary Steward along with being involved in
numerous other extra curricular activities.
While many farm
parents in those days thought children were “cheaper by the dozen”,
Larry’s parents discussed and thought that 8 children would be enough to
help with the farm chores as almost everything that was produced on the
farm was needed for food. Larry was a kind, obedient and cheerful son
and brother who was always proud to talk about being a farm boy and his
careers that followed. He started driving a Ford tractor at age 6 to
help pick up hay bales and that was just the beginning of working their
family farm and helping numerous neighbors. At age 16, Larry was
employed for the State of Kansas Highway Department in Junction City
where he worked for two summers.
Following his graduation from
High School, not yet 18, Larry walked into Wilson and Company Engineers
and Architects in Salina, Kansas and asked to speak with the President
of the company. He was obliged and started work there one year later
doing drawings for the Saudi Arabian Government Highway project. Due to
his performance there, he never had to ask for another professional job!
As word traveled, Larry eventually moved to Waterloo, Iowa and taught
Commercial Art at Hawkeye Institute of Technology for almost 30 years.
Larry also had his own studio and did all aspects of Advertising Art and
Design.
He was devoted to his family and as his children became
older he served as President of the Parent Teacher Organization. Larry
often said his proudest moments were raising his family and watching
his students become successful.
Larry enjoyed fishing and was an
avid bowler, bowling for 60 years with one perfect 300 game. Larry was
added to the Bowling Hall of Fame. He was a junior bowling coach and got
to meet Hall of Fame professional bowler, Dick Weber, for raising money
for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Larry was an advisor for
the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America and served on a number of
charitable organizations and events. Larry was also proud to have served
as a Scout Master for eight years. He loved working with young
children.
As you know, in those days only the Good Lord knew
whether a child to be born was a boy or a girl. As Larry’s dad was
working on the farm making noise in March, 1942, the Good Lord came to
him and asked what kind of ears he wanted for his son. Because of the
noise, his dad thought he said “What kind of beers do you want” to which
he replied, “two big ones”. On June 30, 1942, with his mother 45
years old, Larry was born on the kitchen table in the old farm house
with the help of a mid-wife, but there were complications. Dr. Butcher,
who was the doctor in Wakefield came to the house and discussed with
the mid-wife the situation. They could not determine whether the
problems were related to his mother’s age, being born on the kitchen
table or if it might be because of his “big ears”. After 2 months of
careful treatment the Doctor told his mother that it looked like
everything was going to be fine. His mother replied “Thank you Lord” to
which Larry’s big ears heard that response. As he grew older, Larry
began to read and research and found what his mother actually said was
“Amen Lord”. Larry studied about a seminary student who was working on
his Doctorate Degree. On his thesis he asked what the definition of Amen
was and found that only about 30% of people who say Amen actually know
what they are saying.
To leave a special online message for the family, visit www.johnsonjc.com.