Arthur Larson

Arthur D. Larson, 87, of Sumner, died Thursday, October 29, 2020, at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, November 2, 2020, at St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner with Rev. Tracy Hinkel officiating. Thomas E. Woods Post #223, American Legion of Sumner following the funeral service, provided military rites.  Inurnment will be at a later date at St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery. Visitation was held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, November 1, at the St. John Lutheran Parish Hall and for one hour preceding the service at the church on Monday. Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.  Becker-Milnes Funeral Home is assisting Arthur’s family. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com Arthur Dean, son of Bjarne “Barney” and Renneta (Rurouden) Larson was born October 15, 1933, in rural Fayette County. He was baptized February 4, 1934, and confirmed June 6, 1948, both at East Clermont Lutheran Church. Art received his education in the Clermont and Elgin Schools, graduating from Elgin High School. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1951 during the Korean Conflict and served until being honorably discharged in 1960. 

On February 26, 1955, he was united in marriage with Marilyn Kloster at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in West Union. To this union two sons were born, Keith and Tom. 

Art’s professional career began at a creamery in Luana, worked as an electrician in Calmar, service technician at People’s Natural Gas in Waukon, Tripoli, and Sumner, maintenance at Mercy Hospital in Oelwein, Iowa Liquor Store in Sumner, a resident treatment professional at MHI in Independence, and finished his working career at the Sumner City Park in 1998. 

He was a longtime member of St. John Lutheran Church in Sumner, Thomas E. Woods Post #223, American Legion of Sumner (where he was very involved and served in many capacities), was a Mason, and Shriner. Art was also a volunteer firefighter with the Luana, Waukon, and Tripoli Volunteer Fire Departments and volunteered at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner. He enjoyed playing golf, watching and cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Cubs, played fast pitch softball, stockcar racing, and boxed while in the United States Navy.

Art is survived by his two sons, Keith (Lynnette) Larson of Sumner and Tom (Layna) Larson of Waterloo; four grandchildren, Wendy (Shane) Wentzel of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kyle (Rebecca) Larson of Sumner, Kara Larson of Waterloo, and Ashley Larson of Arlington; five great-grandchildren, Chase, Carter, and Zachary Wentzel, and Riley and Dayton Larson; and sister, Alta Parkin of Eldridge.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn who died July 18, 2018; brother, Bernell Larson; and sister, Shirley Kay Boese.