Janet Yvonne Larson (Lehl)

Janet was preceded in death by her husband Lanny Larson, her father Edward Lehl and her mother Anne Lehl (Brotzman). She is survived by her daughter Cheryl and her husband David, her son Keith and his fiancée Randi, and her daughter Kim and her husband Rob, her grandson Zach and his significant other Sarah, her grandson Justin and his fiancée Kristi, great granddaughter Kassaandra and her great grandson Blaze. She is also survived by her brothers Richard and his wife Kate and Raymond and his wife Rhonda, also by sisters-in-law Laverna and her husband Rod, and Doris and numerous nieces and nephews, also Randi’s children, Mandy, Josh and Zachary, which she considered to be her grandchildren.

Janet Larson was born December 29, 1941 in Denver, Colorado just a few weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Her childhood was not easy at a time of coffee, gas and sugar rations (she had a sweet tooth). Janet’s upbringing involved chores, homework, piano lessons, and watching her younger brothers – all of which had to be done before she could play. Her favorite thing to do was play with her pet duck Quackers and her friends. When she got older, after they ate her duck, she mostly played the piano and spent time with her friends. She was not allowed to date until she turned eighteen and her dad had to meet the boy and approve of him before she was allowed to go out with him.

After she graduated from North High School, her first job was with the FBI, where she was a clerk and secretary; this was where she met her husband Lanny Larson. After they were dating for a little while Janet borrowed his prized 1957 Chevy. She would pick up her girlfriends and cruise around looking for boys. She got away with it for a little while; until, the water pump went out and she had to call him. Needless to say she never borrowed his car again ha-ha. She was a strong, amazing and loving women but she had an ornery streak. The couple eloped a year or so later, she had to elope because her dad didn’t approve; although, they did give them a reception. Janet’s dad said ‘There wasn’t much her could do about it now.” She had to quit her job to have her first born, a healthy baby girl, and after 3 years she had a bouncing baby boy. She found a job at a printing company and she loved it. Her mom watched the kids so she could work on her new career and in the sixties that wasn’t easy for women, but she did it.

Although they thought they were done having children, four years passed and she had another healthy baby girl. She took a leave of absence and tried her hand at being a stay at home mom, but as time passed she got really bored and really – how many times can you vacuum without going crazy? Back to work she went and picked up where she left off and was so happy again. A few years later Lanny got a job offer in Montana, so off they went on their new adventure, thought their adventure didn’t work out too well so they came back to Denver. Janet was a big city girl and she absolutely loved Colorado. She never left again. During her life she had a variety of jobs; but, the one that she loved the most was working for a big CPA in Boulder as an Administrative Assistant. For eighteen years she put tax returns together, answered phones and trained new employees. Her co-workers affectionately referred to her as the “Head Honcho”. She had to retire when Lanny developed cancer so she could care for him, which was also right after her hip replacement. This is why she is amazing, she had rheumatoid arthritis and hurt every day; and after her surgery she could barely walk but she was always taking care of Lanny.

After Lanny passed she did the things she never had time for before. She loved to read and she read a lot of books, if I had to guess I would say thousands. Other hobbies that she loved was crocheting, embroidering and knitting. Her first and foremost love was her family. Whenever anyone came over it always brightened up her day, she loved to watch the grandchildren play. She also loved to visit and keep up with whatever was going on in your life and how you felt but she never complained about what was going on with her. Everyone, including friends and family knew they were always welcome. She also had her companion with her all the time, an Australian Shepard that thought she was human. Janet named her Ginger and she knew she could always find a treat around Janet. Ginger’s toys were stuffed animals that she would play with and line up across the floor just waiting for Janet to tell her to bring it to her so they could play.

Christmas was her favorite time of year as she knew she would have all of her family around. She was very proud of her family; her children were brought up with discipline, values, morals, respect and lots of love. Every year she would fill her house with decorations and the smell of freshly bakes cookies, bread and kucken (German coffee cake) filled the entire house.

Janet was the hardest working, giving, loving, and understanding women ever. If you look up the definitions of mom, grandma, friend or confidant you will find her name. Janet was our mom and she will be missed tremendously.

Viewing Saturday, October 13th, 6-8pm and service Sunday, October 14th, 12 Noon both at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary, 7777 W. 29th Avenue, Wheat Ridge. Interment will follow at Olinger Crown Hill Cemetery.