- Date Of Birth: July 3, 1941
- Date Of Death: November 19, 2021
- State: Wisconsin
James J. Larson passed peacefully away Friday, November 19, 2021 after a brief illness.
Jim was born July 3, 1941 to Harold and Mayme (Swetz) Larson at Riverview Hospital in Wisconsin Rapids and graduated from Assumption High School, class of 1959. He enjoyed Scouting and eventually attained the level of Eagle Scout, of which he was very proud. While in high school, Jim played varsity football and also played in the marching band. After graduation, Jim was employed at Consoweld Inc., an early manufacturer of plastic laminates, and began a life-long love affair with hot rods, road trips and drive-in theaters, blasting rock and roll from the radio and hanging out with his pals. His hobbies included league bowling and archery with the Antler Archers Archery Club in Wisconsin Rapids. Jim loved stock car racing, and he spent many Fridays at Griffith Park Speedway with his brother Mark watching the likes of Tom Reffner, Marv Marzofka, Roger Olsen, and, of course, the notorious Dick Trickle.
He met Nancy Schulze, a newly hired elementary school teacher from Reedsburg, WI and they were wed on June 17, 1967. Soon after, Jim opened up an archery shop specializing in custom bows, hand crafted arrows, and archery equipment. Jim graduated with an Associate Degree in Business from Mid-State Technical College and began working for the Frank Garber Company, Raulin Fuel and Heating, and finally for his own company, Larco Sales. He spent many years on the road, sales repping HVAC and heating components all over Wisconsin and the UP. During his free time, he was a ham radio operator and an early fan of CB radios as well. He also began getting his pride and joy, a 1966 Ford Fairlaine, restored. “Drive it like you stole it,” he would say.
Jim and his wife operated Aunt Nancy’s Collectables and Antiques for many years and enjoyed traveling to auctions and other antique dealers hunting for antiques and curios. After years of working retail, Jim and Nancy retired from their businesses and enjoyed pontoon rides, Packer games, Badger games, and dining at restaurants here in the area and during idyllic winters in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Jim is survived by his wife Nancy (Schulze); brother Mark (Marsha) Larson of Wisconsin Rapids; sister-in-law Joyce Mylrea, Stoughton, WI; nieces Brooke Mylrea, Stoughton, WI, Lori (Mark) Hogue, Wisconsin Rapids, Marissa (Arthur) Rebischke, Wisconsin Rapids; nephews Brad (Rie) Mylrea, Okinawa, Japan, Brian (Sachie) Mylrea, Fort Wayne, IN, and Eric Larson, Madison, WI. Jim also dearly loved his 6 great-nieces and 5 great-nephews and always followed their accomplishments with keen interest. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Donna Hodge, brother-in-law Robert Hodge; and niece Cindy (Patrick) Kelley.
A memorial in Jim’s name will be determined at a later date.
