Jean Larson

Jean Russell Larson
Children's book author, teacher and social activist Jean Russell Larson died Thursday, January 19 in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Born Norma Jeanne Russell, July 25, 1930 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Charles Reed Russell and Ardice Johnson, of Irish, Norwegian and German ancestry, Jean was indeed fortunate when her father remarried and Myrtle Koester became her wonderful mother.
The North Third Avenue neighborhood of Marshalltown is where Jean and her close friends Norma Lee, Dorothy, Lillian, Claire Bell and Francis first met, beginning friendships that endured the years, It was also where Jean began a lifetime of storytelling, sharing her first efforts with kids and dogs alike. Jean attended Aaron Palmer School where as a young girl she memorized and recited "The Sandpiper" by Celia Thaxter. It was a moment of great pride for her. Every summer, Jean would spend two weeks with her Newhall cousins, Lowell, Kenneth, Marlys and Janice as "an occasional farm kid" at their farm in Hardin County. Her love of nature and animals was reinforced there, and her cousins were kind and encouraging.
Jean attended Marshalltown High School and was named first female sports editor of Pebbles, and played saxophone in the marching band. She was active in sports and was offered a chance to play basketball professionally in a barnstorming league. She chose college instead. During the years of World War ll, she went with her parents to serve sandwiches and coffee when "troop trains" came through town. Jean's uncles Harold and Burlin Johnson died in that war.
She graduated M.H.S., Class of 1948 and attended Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she majored in physical education. Jean returned to Marshalltown after one year and worked at Strand Bakery. Jean's admiration of Amelia Earhart as a child inspired her to take flying lessons from the Neiderhauser Brothers at Marshalltown Airport. She converted to Catholicism, beginning many years of involvement with St. Mary's Church Alter and Rosary, and later St.Henry's Church. In the 1950s, Jean gave tennis lessons at Anson School for Marshalltown Parks and Recreation.
Jean married Richard Larson in 1954 in Marshalltown. They divorced in 1972. She raised eight children; Kathy, Rick, David, Rosemarie, B.J., Michael, Patrick and Danny.
In the early 1960s, Jean began a career as an author of children's books. She was inspired by Grace Cooper, longtime Marshalltown public librarian and Laura McCrill, her high school English teacher. In 1966 her first effort, "Palace in Baghdad: Seven Tales from Arabia" was published by Charles Scribners, Sons. That book was followed by "The Silkspinners", "Jack Tar", "The Glass Mountain and other Arabian Tales", "The Fish Bride and other Gypsy Tales" and "The Norwegian Folktales of Anton and Gurina Johnson" Her poetry appeared in Michigan Quarterly, Massachusetts Review and Literary Review. Excerpts of her books appeared in Junior Great Books and Scholastic News. In 1967, "The Silkspinners" was named an American Library Association Notable Book. In 1973, "Jack Tar" was given The Lewis Carroll Shelf Award by The University of Wisconsin and deemed to "belong on the same shelf as "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll.
In the 1980s, Jean created The Coalition for Social Justice with her good friend, Diane Vajgrt. They served residents primarily in the east and north parts of Marshalltown, advocating for the safety and dignity of home and apartment rentors They were instrumental in the effort to rebuild the North Third Avenue Viaduct and replace the unsafe elevator in the Tallcorn Hotel. Jean joined in the Catholic Peace Movement, participating in public actions relating to issues of war and peace. She also worked at Domestic Violence Alternatives as shelter monitor, supporting and counseling those in need of safety.
Jean returned to college, attending M.C.C. and Buena Vista and later taught English at both schools. She earned a Master of Arts Degree in English from Iowa State University in 1992 and taught English and creative writing there. She also taught creative writing at the Senior Center for Iowa Valley Continuing Education for many years. It was there she encouraged and guided many class members to write down and share their life experiences and many close friendships were formed there. Her passion for genealogy was sparked as her students shared family stories and histories. Jean and her children spent many happy hours solving the mysteries of their own family history. Jean's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gave her great happiness. Emma, Brea and Roan, three of her grandchildren called her "The Best Nana in the Galaxy"
Animals were a very big part of Jean's life. Beginning with great danes when she was a child and both dogs and cats as an adult, she had many animal friends and loved them all dearly. She participated in Trap, Neuter and Release efforts in her neighborhood. She considered these animals "God's innocents" and their care our responsibility.
Jean is survived by her children and their spouses: Kathy, David (Dorene), B.J., Michael (Sarah), Patrick (Tracy) and Danny, grandchildren Maureen, Jack, Emma (Jacee), Brea, Roan, Holly, Nicholas, and great-grandchildren Ethan and Zariah. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Dora and Patricia, her son Richard, daughter Rosemarie and her son-in-law Jon McCord.
There will be a visitation at Mitchell Family Funeral Home Thursday, January 26 at 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be private-for family only. Please direct memorials to Marshalltown Strong TNR or The Animal Rescue League. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.
For those unable to attend, services will be available at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mitchell-Family-Funeral-Home-99280714047/. Please be patient as not all services begin promptly at the start time. If there are any technical difficulties with the livestream, a recording of the services will be uploaded to the page at a later time. Thank you for understanding!