LAWRENCE H. LARSEN

1931 - 2017

Lawrence H. Larsen, 86 died on February 18, 2017. He was the son of Arleen (Larson) and Elmer Larsen. Larry was born on January 18, 1931 in Racine, Wisconsin. He married Barbara Cottrell on October 12, 1963. Larry was a professor emeritus of American History at UMKC, where he taught for 36 years. He received his BS degree from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI and MA and PhD in American History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His publication were many and on diverse history subjects. He was the author or co-author of 17 books, among them a biography of Thomas Pendergast, titled, Pendergast! He was the historian for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. He wrote a history of the court titled, Federal Justice in Western Missouri: The Judges, the Cases, the Times. His favorite place to write was the family island cabin on Rainy Lake, Northwestern Ontario, Canada. Larry was member of St. John's United Methodist Church, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Phi Alpha Theta, Organization of American Historians, Western History Association, Denmark Lodge 56, and Kansas City Posse of Westerners. Larry was preceded in death by his parents and brother Wayne Larsen. He is survived by his wife Barbara, daughters M. Kimberly MontsDeOca (Raytown), and Ruth E. Larsen (International Falls, MN), grandchildren Corey (Destiny) MontsDeOca (Independence) and Haley Larsen-Barsotti (Lee's Summit), great granddaughter Makayva MontsDeOca, sister-in- laws Ruth (Phil) Cottrell-Bain (Kansas City) and Joan Larsen (Racine, WI), nieces Sarah Lehmann,(Washington D.C.), Rebecca Janisch (Maple Plain, MN), nephew Daniel Lehmann (Essex Jct, VT) and their children Jacob and Jordan Janisch, and Abby and Bria Lehmann. He also leaves the kitties, Maxx and Puma. Cremation. A private memorial service to be held at a later date. Memorials may be sent to Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman RD, KCMO 64137 or Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation.