Rev. James Everett Larson's Obituary
Reverend James Everett Larson, 84, of Chanute, Kansas, went home to heaven to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2015. He died peacefully surrounded by loving family members at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.
Rev. Larson was born November 23, 1931 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Viola Laura (Bergmann) and Everett Peter Larson. He was baptized on December 30, 1931 at West Union Lutheran Church in Cologne, Minnesota and confirmed in 1945 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waconia, Minnesota with the confirmation verse from Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith…”
He graduated from Concordia Junior College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1951 and from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis with a Master of Divinity degree in 1957. While serving his vicarage in Lincoln, Nebraska, he met his future wife, Marie, during the summer of 1956; their relationship blossomed. After writing letters to her nearly every day during his final year of seminary, he married Marie Louise Olson on June 16, 1957 at Vilas Bethel Lutheran Church in Kansas.
Following their wedding, the Larsons answered the call to the mission field, travelled over 8,000 miles - mostly by ocean liner - and served as missionaries in Papua New Guinea from 1957 to 1973. Rev. Larson served the Enga people of the highlands as an evangelistic missionary with the goal to bring Christ to the people of Papua New Guinea. He instructed the native people for baptism and developed congregational leaders. When the mission began, the Enga language was only spoken and not written. He helped with translating the Bible into the Enga language, and he also served as language director of the mission by instructing newly arrived missionaries.
Upon leaving the mission field after serving for over 15 years, Pastor Jim Larson was called in 1974 to serve the dual congregation parishes of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lewiston and Grace Lutheran Church in Stockton, Minnesota. He was then called to be pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Granite, Oklahoma where he served from 1977 until he retired from full time ministry in 1995. At that time, Pastor Jim and Marie moved to Marie’s home place near Chanute, Kansas, to help care for Marie’s mother. He continued his ministry by serving as a guest pastor with congregations in the area. He maintained the title of Pastor Emeritus at Zion Lutheran Church until his death.
Pastor Jim will be remembered for his genuine love and compassion for people. He found joy in spending time with family, learning, using his knowledge to help others, and especially in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Larson is preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Viola Larson. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Marie; three children: daughter Rebekah and husband Michael Wolff of Natchitoches, Louisiana; daughter Miriam and husband Mark Lack of Phoenix, Arizona; and son Stephen and wife Donna (Walshon) Larson of Algonquin, Illinois; and six grandchildren: David Wolff of Austin, Texas, Anne Marie and James Wolff of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and Emily, Andrew and Isabella Larson of Algonquin, Illinois.
A funeral service for Rev. Larson will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at Zion Lutheran Church in Chanute, Kansas officiated by Rev. Daniel Ramsey. The burial and graveside service will immediately follow at Vilas Bethel Cemetery west of Chanute.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday December 28th, 2015 at Zion Lutheran Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Zion Lutheran Church may be left with or mailed to Countryside Funeral Home 101 N. Highland, Chanute, KS 66720. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.countrysidefh.com.
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