John Donovan Don Larson

He was born on Feb. 6, 1919 in Wallin, Iowa, the son of John Andrew and Anna Carolina Victoria Hildur Larson. Don was raised on a farm in Montgomery County, Iowa to a family of Swedish heritage. He attended Iowa State University where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in forestry. Don was inducted into Alpha Zeta Scholastic Honorary.

On Nov. 18, 1945 he married Mary I. Taylor in Red Oak, Iowa. They moved to Springfield where he worked as a staff forester for the State of Illinois Division of Land Reclamation and Forestry for over 40 years.

His memberships included the American Society of Foresters, LOESS, and St. John’s Lutheran Church. Don was a long time contributor to causes of peace. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and gardener. His prime love and focus of his life was Don’s wife, Mary and his family.

Mr. Larson is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Isabel Larson; four children, Erik (Ruth) Larson of Salem, OR, J. Donovan (Joan) Larson of St. Louis, MO, Julie Larson (Steve) Bupp of Charleston, WV, and Paul (Roma) Larson of Springfield; 12 grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren; and a brother, Kenneth (Mary) Larson of Spokane, WA.

He was preceded in death by his two sisters, Iva Houtz and Doris Reed.

Visitation will be held Friday, June 29 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Boardman-Smith Funeral Chapel. A funeral service will be held Saturday, June 30 at 11:00 am at St. John’s Lutheran Church with Rev. Lee Uden officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.