Louise K. Larson

Louise K. Larson

October 13, 1926 ~ February 4th, 2017

On February 4th 2017, Louise K. Larson of Englewood, Colorado passed away. She was born on a farm in Beatrice, Nebraska on October 13th 1926. She moved to California as a young adult where she worked as a stenographer. There she met Russell A. Larson and they married on June 12th 1949. They had five children in southern California before moving to Denver in 1964. Their sixth child was born in Englewood, Colorado. Her husband Russell passed away unexpectedly in 1978.  Louise continued to live in the house they bought together in 1970 until 2005. At that time she sold the house they had bought on South Franklin Street and relocated to the Englewood Meridian senior living complex.

Louise worked at Swedish Hospital as an admitting clerk for 25 years. After retiring in 1989 she went on to volunteer at Swedish as she had always wanted to do. As her eyesight continued to deteriorate due to macular degeneration, she had to give up many things she loved including reading, traveling and helping others.

Louise was preceded in death by her parents Rev. John G. and Marie Kitzelman, her husband Russell A. Larson, two sons, Timothy and Mark Larson, two sisters, Esther Halbert and Ruth Dodd, and two nephews, Van Nichols and Audie Wise.

She is survived by her son Russ (Jane) Larson of Longmont, CO; her daughters Nancy (Alan) Homewood of Littleton, CO; Jana (Luke) Monroe of Englewood, CO; Lisa (Doug Crites) Larson of Centennial, CO; her siblings Dorothy Wise of Englewood, CO; Lillian Owens of Centennial, CO; Alfred (Kathy) Kitzelman of Littleton, CO; and Marion (Fred) Nichols of Minneapolis, MN.

She is survived by her granddaughters Jamie Avello of Dallas, TX; Krista Chappell of Midland, TX; Megan Larson of Longmont, CO; Stacy Larson of West Milton, OH; Leah Monroe of Englewood, CO; her grandsons Joe Larson of Denver, CO; Alex Homewood of Arvada, CO; Lucas Larson of Boulder, CO; Simon Monroe of Englewood, CO.

She is survived by seven great grandchildren; Alex Avello, Preslie and Brooklyn Jorgensen, Christian and Kaydence Chappell, Adrien Salyers and June Jay.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews; Debbie (Elliot) Wheelwright of Holliston, MA; Liz Hutton of Grand Junction, CO; Mitch (Sue Robertson-Dodd) Dodd of San Antonio, TX; Susan Freeman of, Anniston, AL; Carolyn (Mark) Brewer of Castle Rock, CO; Jay Owens of Littleton, CO; Laura Owens Fitzgerald of Orange, CA; Jon Owens of Bogota, Columbia; Jenifer (Louis) Gravel of Boise, ID; Karolyn (Paul) McCarter of Loveland, CO; Nicole (Alan) Brew of Ashland, WI.

Louise will live on in the hearts and memories of many more friends and family.

May she rest in peace.

 A Celebration of Life for Louise Larson

Saturday, March 18, 2017, 11:30 AM

First Christian Reformed Church

1814 S. Emerson St., Denver, CO

Reception Follows Service 

Friends and family are encouraged to sign Louise' guest book and share memories and/or photos by clicking the appropriate tab to the left.

Memories from her daughter Lisa Larson:

I remember our trip to Puerto Vallarta in 1993, where we explored the colonial town and held an iguana.  She always had a love for Mexico and traveled there frequently.

Every Halloween she made me costumes.

I worked with her at Swedish Hospital as a candy striper when she was an admitting clerk.  

We took car road trips to California in the 1970's with Jana & Mark.

She always baked a cake on birthdays.

I remember her sitting in the audience whenever I had a school production.

Memories from her daughter Nancy Homewood:

My mother was a strong woman.  I actually liked to call her 'stubborn'! She endured many hardships in her 90 years, but always persevered. From a farm girl, to a city girl, and to a wife and mother of six children.

I was born in the San Diego, CA area, and lived there until I was 9 when we moved to Colorado. I remember the days at the beach, going to the San Diego Zoo, one of our favorite places.  Along with Disney Land, of course! Many years later she and I along with my 2 young daughters took a road trip from Englewood, CO to San Diego.  We went to all our favorite places. She especially liked the town and the beaches of La Jolla, CA.

Her and I took several other trips together, including Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and an Elder Hostel trip to San Diego, and down to Ensenada, Mexico.  It was a great tour.  

She enjoyed traveling and went on many adventures with family and friends. When my daughter Jamie was 12, she and my mother went to New York City.  They saw the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Twin Towers, Metropolitan Museum and Empire State Building.  They had the time of their lives! Through the years, my mom would always talk about that trip.  It was a very special trip for the two of them.

When my daughter Krista turned 12, their adventure took them to Washington, D.C.  They visited many of the beautiful landmarks there: Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Ford's Theater and many others.  A fun and educational trip.

She was a wonderful grandmother who shared many precious memories with all of her grandchildren.

She enjoyed sewing, quilting, antiquing, reading and walking.  She was a long time member of The Denver Botanic Gardens, which we visited often. She also liked to cook and bake.  One thing she will always be remembered for is her awesome tuna salad sandwiches, the best ever!  Also her potato salad, homemade 'hand cranked' ice cream; and the traditional Christmas 'peppernuts', a recipe passed down from her mother.  You either loved them or hated them!!

She loved ice cream, especially Haagen- Dazs.  Her favorite pizza, Frank's pizza in Englewood, CO.  Cheese only!

Thank you mom, for everything.  We miss you.  Love, Nancy

Memories from her daughter Jana Monroe:

Life wasn't easy for mother and I. Our relationship from my birth until I gave birth to Simon was a hard one. We didn't get along. In fact I was a difficult child. Although my brother Tim had issues with our parents during his teens. It was even worse for my mother and I. when I was a teen.

Yet something must be true to the old saying “when you walk in someone else's shoes”. I showed up at my moms back door with a baby and asked “Can you help, I don't know what to do?” after all she had had six children, she knew what to do. Here I was experiencing a tiny bit of how hard it is to raise a child, and I only had one at that point.

This is when my rough and rocky relationship with my mother turned for the better. We took long walks with Simon in the stroller and a few years later with Leah, and talked about life. She showed me how to care for a baby. She got mad at me when I yelled at them though. I would look at her and say “I didn't yell” at least I didn't think I did.

Mom was amazed that when Simon grew up he was undamaged from my “yelling” She said I yelled at Leah too. I wasn't yelling, I was just correcting I thought.

We continued to grow close over the years. I remember going over to her house, and hanging out with her and the kids. We had many laughs. We went out to lunch often and to the zoo, the aquarium and other adventures. Mom and I also did other things together without the kids. She loved going to movies and we went often.

I'm unable to write all the great things that happened since we became friends, as I am so broken in sorrow right now. I do remember we had a ton of laughs.

Jana