LARSEN, Nels

LARSEN, LANDGRAVE, PETERSEN

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 10/20/2017 at 19:10:58

Nels Larsen, 92, of Clear Lake, Iowa, died Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.

Memorial services will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, Iowa, with the Rev. Drew Rietjens officiating.

Inurnment will be in the Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake, with military honors provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W.

Visitation will be Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, and then one hour before the service on Wednesday. Memorials may be directed to the family.

Nels was born and raised in Dysart, Iowa, the son of Peter and Emma (Landgrave) Larsen. He enlisted in the United States Navy during WWII spending most of his time in the Admiralty Islands, north of New Guinea. After the war he moved back to Dysart and farmed until 1949 when he got a job as a mechanic in Traer.

Nels married Dolores “Dolly” Petersen Oct. 30, 1949, in Marshall County, Iowa. They spent their honeymoon in Clear Lake and they decided they liked it so much they stayed in Clear Lake.

He went to work for Burns DX station. He served as Clear Lake police chief from 1955-1971 and later was city’s civil defense director and street superintendent retiring in 1986.

He was one of the first responders on the scene of the Buddy Holly crash.

He served on the Clear Lake City Council from 1988-2003. He was a member of the Clear Lake Volunteer Fire Dept., Clear Lake V.F.W., Clear Lake V.F.W. Honor Guard, and the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.

He enjoyed watching the Vikings, Twins and the Hawkeyes.

He is survived by his two sons Mike (Jennifer) Larsen, Clear Lake, Iowa and Craig (Lori) Larsen, Cedar Falls, Iowa; six grandchildren Jake Larsen, Tanner Larsen, Bailey Larsen, Alec Larsen, Madison Larsen and Ashlyn Larsen and one great-granddaughter Paislee Larsen. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Dolores “Dolly” Larsen; one brother Raymond and his sister Minnie.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. Fourth St., Clear Lake, Iowa. 641-357-2193. ColonialChapels.com