Tom Larson

Tom Larson, age 82, died on Tuesday morning, March 30, 2021, at Avow Hospice in Naples, Florida. He was never left alone, dying surrounded by his family. Tom was born on July 30, 1938, to Ruth Johnson Larson and Harold “Red” Larson.

Tom grew up in Rockton, IL, in the company of an active extended family which included grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. He felt privileged to have had this upbringing and valued his Latvian/Swedish heritage. Tom graduated from Hononegah High School as class Valedictorian. He went on to attend Rockford College, and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in Engineering, and a Masters in Architecture. After working as an architect at Knodle, Rose & Associates in Rockford, IL, Tom, his brother Bill, and partner Ray Tetzlaff put together a business plan and in 1969 started their own building company, Rooftree, Inc.

The partners expanded their company to build affordable housing apartment complexes in Illinois, Wisconsin, and California. They pioneered the concept of managing as well as building their housing projects, and still have an active company.

Tom was a member of the United States Air Force Reserves. He often recalled the anguish he felt when his unit was ordered to depart for Cuba, Bay of Pigs, during the 1961 Cuban Missile Crisis.

Tom lived and worked in Illinois, California, Wisconsin, and Florida. He married Ora Markell in 1959 and had two children, Susan Ruth (1964) and Thomas David (1970).

In 1990, Tom married Susan (Sue) Babb, and they had a daughter, Signe Babb (1990). They moved to Naples, Florida in 1996.

Tom’s recreational interests included racing his Melges 22 on Lake Mendota, Madison, WI; he collected, toured, and occasionally raced his many sports cars; Tom played tennis at Cambier Park, Naples; he loved to golf; he loved to pass evenings playing “500” with his family; he developed as an artist, leaving many watercolor paintings, pen and ink drawings, and ceramic bas-relief works.

Tom loved to dance and sing. He enjoyed his playlists in his final years, adding to the music with his tambourine and steel drum. Over a period of nine years, Tom’s life became centered at home, due to Alzheimer’s. He died close to home, surrounded by his family.

Tom was preceded in death by his father Harold Larson, his stepfather Davy Crockett, his mother Ruth Larson Crockett, and brother Jim Larson. Survivors are his wife, Sue; his former wife, Ora; daughter Susan Ruth Larson-Lewis (Tom); son Tom (Shannon); daughter Signe Green (Tom); granddaughter Payton; grandson Lake; brother Bill (Jenell); brother Steve (Ann); future grandson Jack Thomas Green (dob 8.7.21); and many cousins, nephews, nieces, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.

An invitation-only memorial service will be held at Hodge’s Funeral Home in Naples.