Stanley Larson

Stanley (Stan) Norman Larson, 68, of Lansing was taken by the Lord January 6, 2017 at 7:15 p.m. Funeral Services were held Friday, January 13 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Lansing. Rev. Steve Oden was the Officiant.

The following is written with a sister's perspective:

Stan was born July 23, 1948 at St Francis Hospital in La Crosse, WI to Norman Stanley Larson and Doris (Cordes) Larson. I think Stan was born with a fishing pole in one hand and a bow in the other. He spent his childhood playing cowboys and Indians. He (along with his sisters, Lois and June, and two brothers, Dan and David) would take the cane poles, cross the highway and fish the banks of Lake Onalaska. It was 1960 (I believe) our mother moved the family to Iowa, where Stan took advantage of the woods and the Mississippi River.

After completing high school at Kee High in Lansing, he enlisted in the Army. He was stationed at Germany but soon after went to Vietnam, where he completed his tour and was discharged honorably. He did tell me of waking up to shrapnel hitting his bed while over in 'Nam.

After one or two years he married and moved to Winona, MN and worked at Fib Right. After less than a year of marriage, she took the baby and moved back home. Stan and Raisin (Butch... he was named that because of his love of raisin wine) lived together until Raisin met the love of his life, Pam. Stan worked there for five or six years. He then met Bob Rucker, who had his own indoor/outdoor painting company, and Bob hired him. Stan excelled at the job. Later he would go to work for Sorensons and Sorensons, where he stayed until he retired at the age of 62.

He was then able to perfect his hunting and fishing skills. He guided on the Mississippi and also guided turkey hunters and helped many learn the hunting skills needed for whitetail hunting.

He taught his niece, Desi, his great-niece, Charissa, and his nephews, Donnie, Shawn, Ricky, Leif and AJ, to hunt and/or fish. If I am leaving anyone out, please forgive me.

He also loved ice skating and roller skating, and like everything else he did, he was very good at both. Every Memorial Day we would have a family reunion (which included our friends, as they were and are family). Stan would get his wild turkeys (of course, with the bow) and cut up the meat and marinate it, then sauté it and bring it out to camp for all to enjoy.

Stan's friends were more like family, as I have said: Raisin and Pam, Charley, Rich, Bob, Heath, Brett, Sandy girl (as Stan would call her), Steve and Kim, Rippe family, Al and Theresa Steiber. These are just a few and if you don't see your name here, it is not because he didn't feel that way towards you, it is because I couldn't keep track of his many friends.

The most important thing is that Stan gave his life to the Lord Jesus December 5, 2015. When he told me that, his face beamed more at that than any whitetail he ever harvested.

Stan is survived by his siblings: Ann Cerney of Oregon, Lynne Sheckles of DeWitt, Terri Rogers of Green Bay, WI, Lois Homewood of Luxemburg, Shari Schieman of Burlington, WI, Dan Larson of Columbia Heights, MN, David Larson of Lansing, Ron Larson of New Hampton, Carl Mae “Tyke” of Alaska, Peggy Graef of West Salem, WI, Norman “Buster” Stanley Larson Jr. of Baxter, TN and Mark Larson of West Salem, WI; 25 nieces and nephews; 23 great-nieces and nephews; and 13 great-great-nieces and nephews. Stan was preceded in death by his parents; and one sister, June Livingood; and a beautiful niece and nephew, Shelby and Mathew.

Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Lansing assisted the family with the arrangements.