Loren Dean Larkin

Loren Dean Larkin was born on October 13, 1953, in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Marcus Lee and Dorothy (Ogle) Larkin. On March 3, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., Loren was received into his Heavenly Home, surrounded by the family, friends, and loved ones he cherished dearly.

Loren's life was profoundly shaped by the seeds of faith planted in his youth. As a young boy, Loren and his family lived near First Baptist Church located 1225 Francis St, St Joseph, MO 64501. Throughout his life, this church body remained an anchor for his calling, and it is only fitting that his earthly journey concludes where his spiritual journey began. A memorial and celebration of life was held on March 8, 2026 around 5:30p. For those unable to attend we will be hosting one in Texas soon.

Those who knew Loren know he never lived a "boring" life. He used the time God gave him wisely, living with purpose and intensity. Though he faced early struggles in school, he possessed a lifelong hunger for learning. Through God's grace and the mentorship of key figures in his life, he overcame those obstacles to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Pittsburg State University, a Bachelor of Bible from Criswell Bible College, and a Master of Divinity Equivalency from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

His professional life was a testament to his servant's heart. In Dallas, Texas, he became a leader in the field of SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nursing. He helped shape curriculum, training, and leadership for the region's hospitals and led the charge in raising over $2 million to establish a medical clinic dedicated to caring for women in their darkest moments.

It was during the start of his nursing career in Dallas Texas where he met the love of his life, our mother, Londa Elizabeth Larkin. Their union was marked by God's clear provision. If you know anything about the Dallas area you know there are churches on every corner. Our mother Londa, armed with only a paper map and the yellow pages, set out to find a church family. On her very first weekend in Dallas she managed to drive past a multitude of churches until she felt led to the exact church where Loren was teaching Sunday school. They knew each other for 6 months, dated and engaged for 6 months and married on their one year anniversary.

Loren and Londa were blessed with five children: Trenton, Moriah, Hadassah, Blake, and Preston. He was also a proud and adoring grandfather to six grandchildren: Zalan, Zoe, Liam, James, Cora, and Thea.

Following the call to ministry, Loren served as a pastor in Grandview, Missouri, before answering a call to international missionary work. He and his family moved across the world to minister to the Jewish population in South Africa. Upon returning, he combined his twin callings of medicine and ministry, choosing to love people exactly as they were. He didn't care about a person's past or the "drama" of the day; he simply loved as Christ commanded.

Loren held many titles-nurse, minister, pastor, missionary, mentor, educator, and friend-but the title he held most dear was "Dad." He loved his family fiercely, protecting and providing for them until the very end.

If you were to ask how to best honor Loren's memory, his message would undoubtedly be: Love one another. Reach out to those you haven't spoken to. When you feel God prick your heart to call or visit someone, do it. You will never regret taking the time to love those close to you or sharing the story of God's provision in your life. To honor Loren's legacy is to love as God loves us.

Honoring his wishes Loren was cremated just like his wife Londa was back in 2019. For those wanting to make some sort of donation to the family please contact his daughter Hadassah Larkin