Bob "Lars" (Robert) Larson

PLEASE REFER ALL CONDOLENCES AND PHOTO UPLOADS TO BOB'S MEMORIAL SITE HERE:
https://www.forevermissed.com/robert-m-larson/about

*A RECORDING OF BOB'S SERVICE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE BOX BELOW SHORTLY AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE SERVICE*

Bob (Robert) “Lars” Larson, 89, of Columbia Heights, MN, passed peacefully from this world on Sunday, September 19th, 2021, of natural causes with his family by his side. Bob survived a Covid infection in 2020 but didn’t recover his pre-Covid strength and capabilities.

Bob was preceded in death by his first wife Joan Larson (Hall), their daughter Kim Larson (Cone), their son Joe Larson, second wife Mary Lou Larson (Smith, Meyer), parents Ernest Larson and Carol Larson (Millard), brother Dean Larson, sister Linda Cutsforth (Larson), and granddaughter Marisa Lilley. Bob is survived by son Kyle Larson & wife Gina (Hasledalen), grandchildren Erin and Skyler Larson, daughter-in-law Cheryl Lilley (Scott) & husband Doug Lilley, granddaughter Shayna Morsch (Lilley) & husband Mike Morsch & great-granddaughter Paisley Morsch.

Bob was born in central Wisconsin, grew up in Poynette, and married his high school sweetheart, Joan Hall. After Bob’s four years of Navy service, they settled in Milwaukee, WI. Bob started at IBM servicing punch card readers and worked his way up to executive over a 30+ year career. While in Milwaukee, Bob and Joan welcomed their children Kim, Joe, and Kyle. The family moved several times during Bob’s time with IBM: to Pine Island, MN, back to Milwaukee, then to Minneapolis, MN, and lastly, Bob, Joan, and youngest son Kyle moved to Dallas, TX.

While in Dallas, Bob and Joan became certified addiction counselors and operated their own outpatient addiction treatment center. After retirement from IBM, he fulfilled an ambition to complete college, attaining a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas Woman’s University at age 65. He later retired from addiction counseling to pursue wood crafts, built furniture for his grandchildren, constructed two sea kayaks, and achieved a skill level as a woodturner that earned him a blue ribbon at the Texas State Fair.

Bob was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous. While in Dallas, he became a practicing Buddhist. He was passionate against discrimination of any kind, participated in Dallas protests supporting rights for marginalized communities, and advocated for his church to become a “welcoming” congregation. After losing Joan to cancer, Bob was fortunate to wed Mary Lou, a true native Texan. They enjoyed many happy years together, each with their own creative pursuits, traveling, and giving back to the community, before Mary Lou’s passing in 2011.

When Mary Lou passed, Bob returned to Minneapolis, where his closest surviving family lived. In Minnesota, Bob was a member of Faith United Methodist Church, the Compassionate Ocean Dharma Center and continued attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. He enjoyed spending time with Kyle’s and Cheryl’s families, close friends Bob and Nancy Johnson, as well as new friends he made through his many activities.

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A celebration of life for Bob is planned for:
Saturday, October 23rd,
with visitation at 1:00 pm followed by a 2:00 pm service, at
Gearty Delmore Funeral Chapel
3888 W Broadway Ave, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
The service will be video recorded and then available online.

The second celebration of life, yet to be scheduled, will be held in Poynette, WI, and announced on Bob’s memorial website: www.forevermissed.com/robert-m-larson .