C. Larsen

Dr. John C. Larsen, age 82, passed away on Tuesday, February 22, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN, following several major surgeries during the month. He was born December 8, 1928, to Clayton A. and Julia (Zender) Larsen in St. James, MN. He attended school in St. James, where he was active in sports and other activities. He graduated with the class of 1946. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Army for two years in Korea. He then attended the University of Minnesota from 1948 to 1954, when he graduated from the Dental School at the U. of M. In 1951 he married Donna Obrien. Following his graduation from dental school, they moved to Montgomery, MN, where Dr. Larsen set up his practice and served the community for 40 years before retiring. In 1974, Donna Larsen became ill and passed away, leaving Dr. Larsen to raise their four children. Two years later, Dr. Larsen attended the 30th reunion of his St. James Class of '46. At that time he renewed his friendship with classmate, Evelyn Laingen, who had lost her husband in an accident, also in 1974. Two years later they were married. Following his retirement in 1994, Dr. John and Evy fulfilled a life-long dream of living on a lake, when they moved to Stony Lake, near Hackensack, MN. They lived there for 11 years, before moving back home to St. James in 2006, where they resided at the time of his death. Dr. Larsen has always been interested in the outdoors, fishing, hunting, trap shooting, and bird watching. He taught gun safety classes and was a Boy Scout leader in Montgomery. When he lived in Hackensack, he helped with the Hackensack Kids Fishing Contest sponsored by the American Legion. He has been a member of the bird club and Audubon Society in Brainerd, the Aransas Bird Nature Club in Rockport, TX, and John and Evy volunteered many years at the Rockport/Fulton Chamber of Commerce Tourist Bureau where visitors obtained information along the Texas coast. Dr. John was a member of the St. James Catholic Church, the St. James American Legion, and the St. James Gun Club. He is survived by his wife Evy; children- Brian Larsen, David Larsen, Gail Obrien, Clare (Ron) Heupel, Patty (Bob) Holycross, and Steve (Karen) Laingen; grandchildren- Jacquelyn Olson, Amy Olson, Natalie Olson, Audrey Olson, Peter Morgan, Mark Heupel, Erik (Rachelle) Holycross, Brett (Elizabeth) Holycross, Chris (Mary) Laingen, Kellee (Jason) Heffele, and Kerri Laingen; and great-grandchildren- Tierra Olson, Aidan, Emerlee and Arianna Holycross, and Lauren, Katelyn and Kristen Heffele. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Donna; and several cousins.