Gordon "Joe" Larson was born in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on April 3, 1931 and died in his home in Federal Way, Washington on February 2, 2013. Joe grew up on dairy farms in the area surrounding Monroe, Wisconsin and graduated from Winslow High School in Winslow Illinois in 1949. He joined the Air Force and met Madonna Herner, his wife of 59 years, while stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane. He served in the Strategic Air Command and was a veteran of the Korean War. Joe retired from Northwest Airlines in 1993 after 36 years of service as an airline mechanic. He was also one of the original members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). Joe and Donna lived in Federal Way, Washington since 1967.
Joe is survived by his wife Madonna as well as three sons and three daughter-in-laws, Mark and Sherri, Dave and Debby, and Todd and Sandy. He is survived by eight grandchildren, Nicole, Shane, Amanda, Kaitlin, Andrew, Zachary, Riley, Joshua and one great-grandchild, Austin Millus. He is survived by brother Allan Larson and his wife Teresa of Juda, brother Doug Larson and his wife Nancy of Browntown, sister JoAnn Wilde of Monroe, sister Mary Erickson of Blanchardville, and sister-in-law Brenda Larson of Neosho, MO. Uncle Joe was loved and respected by 84 nieces and nephews, 94 great nieces and nephews, and 24 great great nieces and nephews at the time of his death.
He is preceded in death by his father Luther Larson, his mother Ingeborg (Steensland) Larson both of Monroe, his daughter Kathryn Larson, as well as brothers Richard Larson and Don Larson (died on January 27, 2013), and his sister Christine Larson.
Joe was buried at Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery in Federal Way, Washington on February 9, 2013 after a funeral service at St. Vincent de Paul Parish.
Joe is survived by his wife Madonna as well as three sons and three daughter-in-laws, Mark and Sherri, Dave and Debby, and Todd and Sandy. He is survived by eight grandchildren, Nicole, Shane, Amanda, Kaitlin, Andrew, Zachary, Riley, Joshua and one great-grandchild, Austin Millus. He is survived by brother Allan Larson and his wife Teresa of Juda, brother Doug Larson and his wife Nancy of Browntown, sister JoAnn Wilde of Monroe, sister Mary Erickson of Blanchardville, and sister-in-law Brenda Larson of Neosho, MO. Uncle Joe was loved and respected by 84 nieces and nephews, 94 great nieces and nephews, and 24 great great nieces and nephews at the time of his death.
He is preceded in death by his father Luther Larson, his mother Ingeborg (Steensland) Larson both of Monroe, his daughter Kathryn Larson, as well as brothers Richard Larson and Don Larson (died on January 27, 2013), and his sister Christine Larson.
Joe was buried at Gethsemane Catholic Cemetery in Federal Way, Washington on February 9, 2013 after a funeral service at St. Vincent de Paul Parish.