James A. Larson, 86

Published 8:16 am Thursday, February 21, 2019

James Arthur Larson, 86, passed away on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2019, at Our House Memory Care.

James (Jim) was born Oct. 30, 1932, to Arthur Larson and Edna (Medin, Larson) Schmidt in Cambridge, Minnesota.

He graduated from Austin High School in 1952. He enlisted in the United States Army and served part of his time in Korea. After his discharge he was employed at the Hormel Company Austin Office and then in the corporate office until he retired as a senior credit analyst.        

On March 13, 1956, he married Janet (Jan) Eileen Keller. The two had three sons, Thomas in Sarasota, Florida, Jon (Lisa) in East Dorset, Vermont and Todd (Linda) in New Richland, Minnesota; two daughters, Ann (David) Charnecki in South Beloit, Illinois and Marybeth (Brian) Larson-Jensen in Canyon, Minnesota.

Jim loved to be involved in many activities. Most of them were outside ones. He was a runner and would usually run three miles, three times a week. He always ran five miles on his birthday with the last time being when he was 80 years old. He went on many trips to the Boundary Waters and had built his own canoe. In the winter he loved to ski at the Nature Center.

He was a member of the Noon Kiwanis Club, he delivered Meals on Wheels for 25 years and was also active in his church, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Austin.

He is survived by his wife, Jan, of almost 63 years; his children; and brother, Richard (Mary) Larson of Cambridge.

Jim dearly loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Dustin Grothe, Sarasota, Florida, Chris (Mera) Charnecki, Janesville, Wisconsin, Adam Larson, Fort Worth, Texas, Jared Jensen, Denver, Colorado, Erik Jensen, Canyon, Ken Jensen and fiancé Melinda Hars, Rochester, Minnesota, Taylor (Ryan) Hoehn, Woodbury, Minnesota; great-grandchildren Dylan Grothe, Pike and Roe Charnecki and Cal Hoehn.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Tanny Hyland, Delores Potter and Roger Larson.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on April 20, 2019, at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center. Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Association.