"To Barb, Susan, Mary and Liz - I have wonderful memories of visiting with both your parents after meeting Barb at Luther and then post college years. Your dad was such a fine and genuine person who deeply loved his family. It was a fun connection we had, both being from the Chicago area, and I'm so glad he got to see the Cubs win the World Series. May all the many loving memories you have with him bring you comfort and God's peace. Warmly Karen Egan"
In loving memory of
Andrew Larsen
June 24, 1929 - October 13, 2017
Andrew H. Larsen, 88, of Rochester, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 13, 2017 at Shorewood Memory Care Center.
Andrew was born June 24, 1929 in Chicago, IL to Peter and Dagmar(Jensen) Larsen. He graduated from Leyden High School and went on to attend Luther College before being drafted into the U.S. Army. Andrew served in the Army during the Korean War. On May 17, 1952 in Thompson, IA, Andrew married Gladys Hovda. He worked at Northwestern Bell as an engineer and retired in 1985. After retiring, Andrew moved to Sun City, Arizona, before returning to Rochester. Andrew was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church, Soldiers Field Men's Golf club, The American Legion, V.F.W., Telephone Pioneers, and YMCA. Andrew enjoyed playing and watching his children and grandchildren participate in sports. His true passion was golf, where over the years he taught both his children and grandchildren his love of the game. Andrew also loved to travel, recently making a trip to Norway to visit his relatives. Andrew was a calm, patient, loving and kind man. His greatest love was his family.
Andrew is survived by his four daughters, Susan (Bernard) Bouquet, Mary (Todd) Greseth, Elizabeth (James) Hannon all of Rochester, and Barbara Larsen of Eagan; sister-in-law, Esther Shivers of Minneapolis; grandchildren, Andrew "AJ" (Michelle) Bouquet, Peter (Kate) Bouquet, Timothy Bouquet, Paul Winge, Carl Winge, Sarah Dutton, Geoffrey Dutton, Adam Dutton, Michael Hannon, Charlie (Katie) Hannon and Thomas Hannon; great-grandchildren, Aiden and Gavin. Andrew was preceded in death by his loving wife Gladys.
A funeral service celebrating Andrew's life will be held 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester. Visitation will be held 4:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service on Wednesday. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Seasons Hospice, Shorewood Senior Living, Bethel Lutheran Church or to the charity of donor's choice.
The family would like to thank the staff at Season's Hospice and Shorewood Assisted Living for their wonderful care.
To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com
Tributes
" Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I work with Andy at the telephone company for many years. We sure had some good times together. Dick Frutoger"
"I was walking across the St. Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech. when Bernie Bouquet called me to inform me of Andy's death. I spent the rest of that day remembering the special friendship that I enjoyed with Andy. First, I knew him as a man of faith when I served as a pastor at Bethel Lutheran. Over the years I enjoyed multiple opportunities to play golf with Andy and get some "tips" on how to improve my game. For 30 years as his investment advisor, I learned that he was a man of integrity and generosity. Every year he would call and ask if he'd given enough to his church? (I loved that) Andy knew that he was blessed with a loving family and a lot of special friends. I was blessed for knowing him."
"Andy was my 2 man best ball partner At Soldiers Field in Rochester MN for several years in the mid 80's . We stayed in contact with each other after his move to Sun City AZ. I started taking winter golf vacations shortly after Andy moved as did other mutual friends of Andy's. For almost 25 years I would stay with Andy for 7-10 days during the MN winters to play golf and hang out with Andy. During that time I came to know Andy as a very special person that loved his family and God. He would talk extensively about his grandchildren and how athletic they are as well as their career ambitions. Any one could tell that Andy had an abundance of love for his family. I remember many of the conversations we had over the years. One in particular discussion was when I was approaching 60 and getting anxious about retirement. Andy cautioned me to not wish my life away by wanting retirement to come so bad that I miss the experiences of every day. Sometimes the obvious is not obvious until someone points it out. In 2010 my wife and I moved to SC AZ In large part due to my winter vacations at Andy's. The weather and the golf is a golfers dream. But what is most cherished is Andy's friendship. The love and compassion he has shown my wife and I are, I believe are God given. Shortly after moving to Sun City, Andy sponsored my wife and I into the Sun City American Lutheran Church. Another cherished experience from Andy In church this past Sunday the pulpit him was Precious Lord, Take My Hand. I could not help but think of Andy throughout the hymm. Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand, I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light, Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. It is my belief that Andy has not passed away but rather he has passed on to the promise of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I will miss Andy and hope that we can play another round of golf in Gods Kingdom, I know he will be there waiting for me. In Loving memory Ken and Wendy Hagan Sun City AZ "