John J. Larsen

John James Larsen, husband, father, teacher, mentor, and friend, passed away peacefully in his sleep on April 28, 2020 at his home in Flossmoor, IL. John was 75. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Cora Larsen (Burley); his children Joseph Larsen, Jessica (Bryan) Westhoff, and Jacob Larsen; grandchildren Anthony Larsen, Maxim Larsen, Benjamin Westhoff, and Vivian Westhoff; and his brother Victor Larsen. John was preceded in death by his brother Roger Larsen.

John was born on January 8, 1945 to John James Larsen Sr. and Shirley Larsen (Freitag). Born in Chicago, his family soon moved to Mendota, Illinois, where he grew up. As a young child in school, struggles with reading and unhappy classroom experiences led John to his lifelong mission to educate teachers, facilitate learning and to make school a better place for children. He took great joy in observing children and pursued studies in child development. John graduated with a Bachelor's degree in business from Illinois Wesleyan University. Later, he earned a Master's in Guidance and Counseling from Illinois State University, a Master's in Early Childhood Education from The Erikson Institute, and eventually, his Doctorate in Educational Psychology from Loyola University.

While in high school, John met the love of his life, his wife, Cora. They were married his junior year of college. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan in 1967, John and Cora entered the Peace Corps. They spent two years of service in the Philippines, where they did teacher training and introduced new curriculum in modern math and science. They also had numerous adventures, visiting virgin forests, live volcanos, coffee and banana plantation as well as meeting President Ferdinand Marcos and his wife, Imelda. After completing their service in the Peace Corps, John and Cora traveled through Asia and Europe before returning to the United States for graduate school. They continued their adventures together traveling throughout their 53 years of marriage.

John's educational pursuits yielded a fulfilling career throughout the south suburbs and Chicago. John held positions as an elementary school guidance counselor, early childhood special education teacher, college professor, school administrator, and most recently as an – elementary school psychologist. John loved his work. He took great joy in working with kids and educating teachers. He helped countless children and families and served as a mentor to many in the field. John truly valued his colleagues who dedicated their lives to helping others, especially the underserved. He never lost his passion for working with children and guiding staff.

Beyond his work, John was dedicated to his family. Before the break-out hit, "Mr. Mom", John spent years raising their three young children during the mornings while Cora worked. During this time John also worked as a professor, teaching both graduate and undergraduate courses in the department of special education at Chicago State University. John's commitment to his family is evident by the special relationships he had with each of them. Each of his children considered him a best friend. Part of John's magic was that he was a great observer and saw people as individuals. No matter the situation, John always showed up. John was also enamored with his grandchildren. He delighted in watching their personalities take shape. As he got older, he enjoyed teasing them and surprising them with bags of spare change.

Dr. John Larsen will be remembered as fun-loving, caring, kind, and generous. He was an avid reader, admitted fair-weathered sports fan (both Cubs and White Sox), political junkie, and seeker of solitude. He loved Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, popcorn, coffee, and chocolate. He treasured his friendships and took great pleasure in telling stories from his youth. John made the world a better place. John will be remembered fondly by all who met him, and he will be forever loved and missed.

Family will gather for a private graveside services at Restland Cemetery Memorial Gardens Coordinated by Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota, IL.

Memorials in John's memory may be made to:

The Sierra Club https://www.sierraclub.org/

National Park Foundation https://www.nationalparks.org/

The Erikson Institute in their mission to ensure that all children, particularly the most vulnerable, have positive early childhood experiences. Please visit https://www.erikson.edu/give/.

For additional information contact tews-ryanfh.com or call 708-798-5300