Elva Jane Larson, age 89, of Waupaca, WI, passed away on Monday, May 8th, 2023 at Park Vista The Legacy in Waupaca.
Elva was born on August 7, 1933, the youngest of nine children born to the late William and Bertha (nee Richwalski) Brecke near Stetsonville, Wisconsin.
She attended Pleasant Valley Grade School in Deer Creek and graduated from Dorchester High School in 1951. Elva attended airline school in Minneapolis and worked briefly for American Airlines in Chicago before moving back to the home farm. In 1957 she moved to Milwaukee and worked at the telephone company while sharing an apartment with her sisters Ann and Stella.
She married Norman Robert Larson on April 15, 1961 atZion Lutheran Church in Stetsonville, Wisconsin. Their wedding night was always remembered as the night of the big snowstorm.
Elva and Norman lived in Shawano, Wisconsin to start their married lives. Elva worked for Shawano County until the adoption of their son Loren in 1966. In 1969 they adopted their daughter Linda. They moved to Plover, Wisconsin in 1971 where Elva was a homemaker until the children were older before she began working at Rapids Distributing in Plover. In 1983 she found her ideal job with the Portage County Public Library.
She retired in 1996 and began taking care of her new granddaughter Kiana a few days a week.
In 2002, they moved to Waupaca to be closer to the “Larson Farmstead” where Elva took pride in helping mow the lawn and take care of the tree plantations. In 2018, Elva and Norman moved to assisted living due to her health issues.
Elva’s hobbies included genealogy, quilting, sewing, gardening, reading and going to rummage sales. She was an active member of Divine Word Lutheran Church when they lived in Plover. She enjoyed being a member of the Friends of the Library, the Historical Society, and Sons of Norway while living in Waupaca.
She is survived by her husband: Norman Larson, Waupaca, WI; son: Loren (Jill) Larson, Omro, WI; daughter: Linda (Terry) Proos-Larson, New London, WI; Granddaughter: Kiana (Codie) Feltz, Waupaca, WI; Sisters-in-law: Sharon (the late Myron) Brecke, Irene LaStofka& Nancy (the late David) Larson. She is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides her parents, she was also preceded in death by her siblings: Vernon (Betty) Brecke, Audrey (Willard) Vircks, Gladys (Emil) Paur, Annabelle (Harold) Holme, Stella Brecke, Myrtle (Howard) Bedroske, Myron Brecke, Mary Ann Brecke(in infancy); Brothers-in-law: Arne (Madelyn) Larson, Clifford (Maretta) Larson, David Larson and David LaStofka
The Funeral Service will be held at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waupaca, at 11:30 AM on Friday, May 12th, 2023, with Reverend Ron Siemers, officiating. Interment will be in the Scandinavia Lutheran Cemetery, Town Scandinavia, Waupaca Co., WI. Visitation will be held on Friday, from 9:30 AM until the time of the service at the church.In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to ThedaCare at Home Hospice, the Public Library or the Sons of Norway.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Park Vista The Legacy for helping take care of Elva during these difficult years while she lived with dementia, as well as Theda Care at Home Hospice.
The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements.