Kristen "Kris" Marinus Larsen III

Kristen “Kris” Marinus Larsen, III, of Jacksonville, Florida passed away peacefully on April 1, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Kris was a devoted member of Assumption Catholic Church and lived a life centered on Christ. He was a cherished husband, father, brother, co-worker and friend, and he will be deeply missed. His infectious laughter and loving spirit brightened the lives of all who knew him.

Kris was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina on July 23, 1951 to Russell Eugene Larsen and Louise Isabel Ramsey “Pat Vance.” He and his family moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1957.

Kris joined the United States Army in December, 1969 and was honorably discharged in January, 1972. While in service, he earned the National Defense Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. Following honorable discharge, Kris attended the University of North Florida and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education, followed by a Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.). He was a devoted educator and administrator who dedicated over 50 years to shaping young minds and was known for his passionate belief in the potential of every student.

Kris is survived by his wife of 32 years, Kathryn Pearce Larsen of Jacksonville, Florida; his stepson, Joseph Barry of Jacksonville, Florida; his stepdaughter, Kelly Power of Brentwood, Tennessee; his beloved granddaughters, Reagan and Harper; and his siblings and their spouses, Kim Larsen, Clint Larsen, Cathy Dennis, Ivy Taylor, Bob Vance, Judy Boldin, David Larsen and nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving parents.

A celebration of Kris’ life will be held at Assumption Catholic Church at 2403 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida 32207 on Friday, May 8, 2026. Visitation will be held at 11:00 a.m. followed by the funeral mass at 12:00 p.m. The family invites all who knew him to attend. A private, family service to include Committal with Military Honors will take place at the Jacksonville National Cemetery on Friday, May 8, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Kris’ memory to Communities in Schools of Jacksonville (https://secure.qgiv.com/for/krislarsentribute/). For over 13 years, Kris supported the Mission of this great organization to connect students to school and community resources to ensure they attend school prepared and ready to learn.