Willard Albert Larsen

Willard A. Larsen, 93, died on Monday September 24, 2018 at St. David’s Hospital in Round Rock after a short illness and following a noble and blessed life. Born in Muskegon, Michigan on June 28, 1925, Will was the first born of the 3 sons of Patricia and Albert Larsen. 

He was the cherished husband of Beverly Larsen for nearly 70 years; an enduring love story that began with love at first sight at a Neumann Center Dance in Columbia, Missouri. Will graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism, and is known for his wonderful, handwritten letters. Beverly and Will raised with wisdom, humor and love three grateful children: Greg Larsen of Camden, Maine; John (wife Meg) of Milwaukee and Naples, FL; and Ellen Brumder (husband Nicholas) of Waihi, New Zealand. Grandchildren Dana and Jack Larsen, Sophia Buchanan (Patrick) and Julia Brumder, Nicholas P, Theresa Williamson (Callum), and Lucia were lavished with love and laughter, spelling bees, books, and theatre. Great-grandchildren Mary Mead, Liam, Bridget, Thekla and Milo were the ‘jewels’ of his life. 

While a successful insurance executive and salesman, Will’s life was defined by devotion to his faith and family, and service to his community. He volunteered for years at St. Vincent de Paul in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he and Beverly raised their family, and at the Caring Place in Georgetown in retirement years. He enjoyed being a docent at the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas, indulging his passion for history and politics. 

He was parishioner at St. Helen Catholic Church in Georgetown and regularly attended daily Mass and Adoration up until the last days. Will was universally kind and truly interested in everyone he met and had a gift for remembering the details of their lives. 

Will served in WWII in the Army, and because of the typing skills his mother insisted he acquire in high school, became the secretary to the secretary of General MacArthur, and was one of the first Americans to set foot in Japan after the surrender.  

Will was preceded in death by younger brothers, Paul and Thomas Larsen, and became like a second father to his many nieces and nephews from Muskegon: Mary Lynn, Paul (deceased) Kathy, Suzie, Pam, Michael, Tommy, Steve and Lisa, Will was greatly loved by his Minnesota in-laws and their large Danish clan, and the last lively family reunion was hosted a year ago in Georgetown, to honor Bev and Will.  

Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to Will’s favorite charities: St. Vincent de Paul of St. Helen’s, and the Caring Place in Georgetown.  

The family is grateful to the kind volunteers at Faith in Action who would give Will rides to appointments, parishioner friends who gave him rides to Adoration, to the caring Priests and Communion Ministry to the Homebound at St. Helen, and to the doctors, nurses, and chaplains at St. David’s hospital who cared for Will with dignity in his final days. His family rallied around him as loving caretakers and granddaughters Julia, Sophia and son in law Patrick are especially appreciated for their devoted care.