09/15/1994
Funeral services for Merle James Larsen, 70, of Pleasantville, who died September 15, 1994 at the Veterans Hospital in Des Moines from a stroke he suffered on September 9, were September 17, at the Mason Funeral Home in Pleasantville.
Burial was at Pleasantville Cemetery in Pleasantville.
Joe Balsam officiated at the services. Craig Cowden did the eulogy. Music was provided by Mildred Brooks, Melissa Cowden, Emily Cowden, Abby Cowden and Beth Burkhead. Pallbearers were Paul Krichau, Paul Robinson, Kevin Larsen, David Abrahamson, Dennis Krichau and casey Robinson.
Merle was born on June 19, 1924, in Fontanelle, the son of James A. and Estelle Gosnell Larsen. He graduated from Knoxville High School in the Class of 1942.
Following graduation, he entered the United States Marine Corps, where he served during World War II and the Korean War. He was discharged in 1963 and in 1964 he began working for the Veterans Hospital in Knoxville, retiring as a supervisor in the laundry in 1979. On September 8, 1946, in Marshall, Mo. He was united in marriage to Bonnie Wells.
Merle loved to play golf and was a member of the Pleasantville County Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Bonnie; three sons, Bryan Larsen of Richmond, Va., James Larsen of Fulton, Ill. And John Larsen of Mt. Ayr; seven daughters, Rosemary Krichau, Naomi Larsen and Jennifer Larsen, all of Pleasantville, Mona Abrahamson of Des Moines, Martha Robinson of Runnells, Karen Evams of Des Moines and Justine Shane of Big Bear Lake, Calif.; one brother, Ted Larsen of Knoxville; one sister, Ellen Moon of Newton; 23 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorials may be made to the Pleasantville Rescue Unit. The Bybee and Davis Funeral Home in Knoxville was in charge of the arrangements.