Larry Larson

Larry Larson, born February 8, 1952, passed away on March 25, 2026, surrounded by his family after suffering a traumatic brain injury.

Larry is survived by his wife of 49 years, Karen Larson (nee Barron), his children Dave Larson (Peg Larson) and Lisa Larson-Bunnell (Nick Bunnell), and his three grandchildren, William Larson, Alyssa Larson, and Lucas Bunnell. He is also survived by his brothers Joe Brandon (Sue Brandon), Ron Brandon and Jack Brandon (Tina Brandon), and his sister Donna Hamm (Rick Hamm). He was preceded in death by his mom, Naomi Antonian, his step father, Arthur Antonian, his grandmother, Sylvia Koplin, and his sister, Linda Sooley. 

Larry lived an unexpected life. His childhood was marked by instability including time spent in a Chicago orphanage with two of his brothers and his oldest sister. He joined the United States Navy at the age of 17 and was married to his first wife, Donna Nagirny, soon after. The joy of his life, his son David, was born when he was just 20. By 24, Larry was a single father with full custody. 

In 1976, Larry met his soulmate, Karen, while pumping her gas in Waukegan, Illinois. He proposed within three months and they were married in March 1977. They welcomed their daughter, Lisa, in 1979.

 Larry is the perfect example of someone who overcame trauma and early hardship to become an exceptional parent. He craved stability and always did what was necessary to provide for his family. He often worked multiple jobs leaving little time for himself. He instilled a strong work ethic in his children and taught them never to judge people who did what they needed to do to survive and provide for their families.

 Larry was proud of his military service having served in not only the U.S. Navy, but the Army and Air Force Reserves. Larry reported that most of his work in the military was spent driving trucks including during his deployment in Germany. He was honorably discharged due to disability and transitioned into federal civil service. 

His career in civil service was anything but ordinary. Highlights included spending a year living in Saudi Arabia while serving as a contracting officer for the Department of Defense. Later he continued his work as a contracting officer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. His time with FEMA was incredibly impactful. He spent several months stationed in Guam after a disaster. His stories about the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina were vivid and he was clearly touched by the profound loss. Larry continued to work in the private sector after his civil service retirement. A driver to the end, most recently he worked with Hertz helping to transport rental vehicles. 

Larry was a character who never met a stranger- only future friends. His personality was larger than life: you either loved him or couldn’t stand him, and sometimes both. Either way, he knew how to make people laugh with his often-self-deprecating humor. It was not uncommon for people to remember Larry by name years after a single meeting. 

A die-hard Chicago sports fan, Larry’s calendar revolved around his favorite teams, especially his beloved Bears. Many of his vacations were planned around seeing one of his teams in new and different cities. He loved poker and blackjack and even earned a spot in the World Series of Poker in 2013. He also loved movies and television and often texted his children with recommendations for his favorite new shows.

 Larry was a true provider and will be remembered for his extreme generosity towards the people he loved. Gifts were his love language and he was known for his thoughtful, and sometimes (too) expensive gifts. Whether it be the latest electronic or someone’s favorite food from another city, his gifts were not limited to birthdays and holidays. His last, and perhaps most important gift, was the donation of his two kidneys after death. 

Food was his other love language. He enjoyed both cooking and dining out and once had a dream of opening a hot dog stand that he insisted would be called “Larry’s Junk Food Forever.” At Hertz he is remembered for always bringing snacks on Thursdays…. but nothing too healthy. 

Perhaps not surprisingly, Larry had a soft spot for teens who were navigating difficult relationships with their parents. The home he shared with Karen was a warm and welcoming place where many young people were given the opportunity to express their true selves and heal. As one person shared, he was “welcoming whether you met him once or ten times.” He did not always know how to be emotionally available for his loved ones, but he knew how to make them feel safe and secure. 

Larry would never admit this, but he was easily wounded and often used his humor as armor. He was also very stubborn. Despite that, he never missed an opportunity to tell his children how much he loved them and how proud he was of them. He was always happiest when the family was together. Even when there were disagreements, his love was never in question. He prioritized protecting his relationships above all else. This is his legacy. 

Larry Larson:

Veteran

Comic

World Traveler

Chicago Sports fan

Poker Enthusiast

Husband

Dad

Grandpa

Big-Hearted Provider 

The world was a better place with Larry in it and he will be dearly missed. 

Larry will be interred at Leavenworth National Cemetery on Friday, May 15th after a private ceremony. For information about the future celebration of life, please e-mail Lisa at llb4shawnee@gmail.com. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to Midwest Transplant Network,1900 W. 47th Place, Suite 400, Westwood, KS 66205. Midwest Transplant Network