Obituary of Frank Larsen

Frank was born and raised in Libertyville, IL. He then married and raised a family of seven children in Winthrop Harbor, IL. He took many family vacations and challenged his kids at the dinner table with math problems and spelling bees. He was particularly fond of physics and geometry. Frank loved baseball and coached little league, pony league and colt league in the 60’s and 70’s. He later became the president of the Winthrop Harbor Baseball Association. Once a member of Knollwood Sportsman Club, he enjoyed pheasant and coon hunting with his red-boned coon hounds, Rusty and Texi. A music enthusiast, he began playing the trumpet in school. He joined the Army Reserves and served 8 years in the 85th Infantry Division Band. He later joined the Swedish Glee Club, sang in their choir, and played the trumpet in their Dixieland Band. He loved “Big Band” music but also picked a banjo and enjoyed Bluegrass. He worked for International Harvester/Komatsu and retired after 29 years. Then worked at Motorola and took an early retirement after 10 years. He was proud of his Norwegian heritage and taught himself to speak the language. He later traveled to Norway to meet his family there. He wasn't much of a church going man, but he enjoyed listening to Joel Osteen preach on Sundays. He also, in earlier years went to the Masonic Lodge. Mostly, he loved to laugh, make people laugh, and to be surrounded by friends and family while having a cold one. Frank is preceded in death by his mother, Thelma Larsen; daughter, Elizabeth “Buffy” Larsen; granddaughter, Lillianna DeGrazio. He is survived by his sister, Karen Lewis; children, Frank Larsen Jr, Andrea (Chuck) DeFilippo, Michael Larsen (Margie Engels), Eric Larsen, George Larsen, Lori (Rick) Grosskopf; grandchildren, Rhonda (Chuck) Whitaker, Amanda (James) Savakis, Kevin (Jade) Larsen, Kelsey Larsen, Matthew Lasdasky, Lyric Lasdasky, Nate Ester and many great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be private for the family. A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.