Richard Earl Larson

Iron Mountain – Richard Earl Larson, 74, of N3649 Bass Lake Rd., went home to be with his Heavenly Father and Savior on 11/17/2022. An avid hunter, he had spent the day at his deer post in the back field of his home on Bass Lake, where he used to play as a child. The next day, his family discovered the 8 point buck that he had shot. He had often said, “When it’s my time to go, I hope I’m in my hunting post.” Born February 17th, 1947, in Cook County, Chicago, Illinois, Richard was the younger of two children born to the late Russel and Edith (Erickson) Larson. In 1947, the family moved back to Iron Mountain to live in his maternal grandparent’s home near Bass Lake. From then on, he was a lifelong resident of the area. He grew up on the family’s land, surrounded by uncles, aunts, and cousins. His father passed away when he was only 12, so he had to learn to work hard at a young age to help his mother. He played baseball and softball, and he also water skied and was a member of the ski team. He made many jumps off Pine Mountain! He attended Breitung Township Schools, and he met his future wife, Sharon Duby, in the 11th grade, when she had moved to the area from Racine, WI. They both graduated with the Kingsford High School Class of 1965. Sharon was his high school sweetheart and the love of his life. He always called her Mert, after her father, Merton. Richard and Sharon were married on October 9th, 1965, at his childhood home near Bass Lake, the same year that they graduated high school! Their first home was on the end of Newton Street, in a tiny home that belonged to Sharon’s grandmother. Their love got stronger every year, and they enjoyed 57 years together, working hard, and building a home overlooking Bass Lake on his grandparent’s land. They resided there for the past 48 years, serving the Lord, and raising the 3 children whom they were blessed with. Richard was a member of Redemption Hill (formerly Immanuel Baptist Church) his entire life, serving as brigade leader, usher, and facilities deacon. He was on the Thursday church cleaning crew, and he was frequently called on to help others in the church. He was always glad to lend a helping hand when it was needed. Richard loved our Lord, and he was acutely aware of the sacrifice of his savior on the cross. From that truth, Richard lived a life of thankfulness, helpfulness, and love for others. He read his bible daily and prayed for his family and others. Richard was employed at the Niagara Paper Mill as a millwright for 43 years, right out of high school at age 18, until the mill closed in 2008. He was the employee with the most seniority at the time of its closing. He always came home from work with a new joke to tell. He was easy to talk to, whether you were a friend or a stranger. Family was so very precious to Richard, and he was loved dearly by them. He was a wonderful Christian father/husband example. He read the Christmas story to the grandkids from his Bible every Christmas. His family will find comfort in knowing that he is rejoicing in Heaven, and they will see him again! The kids and grandkids looked forward to him and Sharon calling and singing Happy Birthday to them each year. He loved his grandchildren dearly and attended many sporting and school events and piano recitals. He liked to do his famous “jack knife dives” off the diving board, and pull the kids around the lake on water skis. He loved to go to the family camp that he had built on the Brule River in Florence, WI, and he looked forward to the annual family deer hunting there. He and his son, Tim, went on their Canada fishing trip for 26 years, and the grandkids even started joining the trip. He loved to cut wood with his chain saw and work on carpentry/furniture projects in his shop. He built special hope chests for each of the granddaughters. Rich liked to work with his son, Tim, at his lawncare business. He found so many 4 leaf clovers! He was never one to sit still and after retiring, he always had to be working up in his shop, or sitting at his desk reading his Bible or doing cross word puzzles. He liked to plant a huge garden every year and was always sharing its bounty with family and friends. He loved to take a nightly swim in Bass Lake at sunset during the summer months. He enjoyed golfing at the Spread Eagle Golf Course with Sharon. Since he was born in Illinois and had/has many relatives there, he was an avid Chicago Bears fan. He loved his bowl of ice cream and taking naps on his hammock! Richard was blessed with many wonderful friends, and he was close to many of his neighbors, especially Karen and Jim Casari, Norm (the late Sonia) Johnson, Dr. Roberts (and Wendy), and Kristi (the late Richard) Celello. Richard is sadly missed by the love of his life, Sharon; his 3 children and spouses, Jamie (Stan) Henry of Naples Florida, Jodi (John) Casanova of Iron Mountain, and Tim (Corinne) Larson of Iron Mountain; and precious grandchildren, Hillary Henry (Jon) Sieg, Alex Henry, Kailee and Logan Drake, Mattea, Talia, Isaac, Karisa, and Samuel Larson. They will miss him always and love him forever and ever. They find comfort in knowing that Rich is in Heaven with Jesus. He is also survived by sisters-in-law and brother in law, Carolyn (the late Wesley) Paquette of Wakefield MI, Robert and Mary Duby of Florence, WI, and Anna Larson of Guam; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews; and also many cousins, whom he has remained close to. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edith and Russel Larson; his mother and father-in-law, Merton and Margaret Duby; his brother-in-law, Wesley Paquette; and his brother, Lawrence Larson. Visitation will be 9-11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 25th, at Redemption Hill Church in Kingsford. A service celebrating Rich’s life will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the church. Pastor Alex Tunnicliff will officiate. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Richard Larson online at ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted Erickson-Rochon and Nash funeral home with the arrangements.

Richard Earl Larson

February 17, 1947 - November 17, 2022