Gerald Larson's Obituary
Gerald Larson of Grand Haven, age 84, passed away peacefully at home on January 7, 2025. Gerald was born June 16, 1940 in Pipestone, Minnesota to Albert and Marguerite Larson. He went to high school in Helena MT and then proudly served his country in the United States Navy as an aviation instructor from 1958-1961. He continued his education at Montana State University and received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering followed by a Master’s in Electrical Engineering from Bradley University in Peoria IL. He met the love of his life Deana Estep in Helena MT and they got married September 15, 1962. Gerald’s career spanned many companies from Caterpillar in Peoria IL, Trane in Lacrosse WI to Navistar in Ft Wayne, IN and many others. Gerry had an illustrious career with dozens of patents to his name, including the first ever touch panel on a microwave and first ever electronic cruise control. Gerald also worked on DARPA’s super truck focused on significantly improving fuel economy for semi-trucks. Gerry enjoyed flying, wintering in Arizona, fishing as well as tinkering with anything around him – cars, motors, and equipment. He enjoyed history and loved the story of an old ghost town. The most important thing to him was his family and there was many a vacation spent travelling to Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming and Arizona. Gerald is survived by his wife of 62 years Deana, their daughter, Anita Bashaw from Brownsville, MN, sons, Eric (Kelly) Larson of Grand Haven and Chris (Susie) Larson of Munster, IN as well as five grandchildren: Trisha Thole, Lydia Bashaw, Natalie Larson, Nathan Larson and Katie Larson and two great-granddaughters, Aubrey and Isabella Thole, brothers, James (Mary) of Cheyenne, WY, John (Karen) of Helena, MT. He was preceded in death by his parents as a well as a sister, Mary. Gerald was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church in all of the communities that he lived. Gerald was a decent, honorable and loving man and will be missed by all that knew him.
A Memorial Mass will take place 12:00 PM Monday, January 13, 2025, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church. Memorial contributions in memory of Gerald may be given to the Fisher House Michigan – helping veteran families. Please sign the family’s online guestbook at http://www.sytsemafh.com.
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