James Phillip Larsen

James (Jim) Phillip Larsen, was born April 30, 1951, in Spencer, Iowa to Arnold and Lois (Rossiter) Larsen, the second oldest of five children. He passed away at the age of 71 unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, following an injury due to a fall. Per Jim’s previous request a private family remembrance will be held and no funeral or visitation. Jim’s childhood years were spent being a typical farm boy and enjoying the outdoors. He was very close to his grandparents Leslie and Della Rossiter whose farm was very near. Jim graduated from Spencer High School in 1970. He attended Northwest IA Technical College in Sheldon, IA from 1974 through 1976 where he earned a diploma in refrigeration and air conditioning as well as an Electro Specialist II. He also earned certification in welding, acetylene welding and machine shop. In 1985 he took night classes and received certification in Boiler operator I and II. Following college he started his own part-time air conditioning and refrigeration business in Lake Park and was also employed at McQuay Inc. in Spirit Lake. He was responsible there for raw materials and also was a TIG welder of stainless steel, acetylene welding and brazing. Jim’s hobbies included electronics, computers, fishing, and love of aircraft. At one time, he took flying lessons at the Spencer airport. He enjoyed taking his children and grandchildren to the Clay County Fair, Arnolds Park, movie theater and out to eat. He had a kind heart and enjoyed helping others in need around the Spencer community. He was a handy man that helped with maintenance and upkeep of the Larsen family farms. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Charlie Larsen and two nephews, Andrew Larsen and Salman DeLoughery. Jim was blessed and so proud of his two children Matt (Jill) Larsen of Norwalk, IA and LeAnne Praska (Nick) of Woodward, IA whom he shared with a previous spouse, Becky Sherack. His 8 grandchildren: Jayden, Joslyn, Gavin, Corbin, Weston, Zoey, Claire and Grace. Brother: Robert Larsen of Spencer, IA and sisters: Janet (Izzy) Zephier and Joan Olive of Spearfish, SD. Nephew: Kelly Larsen, Nieces: Lea Schuster (Brian) of Omaha, NE and Crissa Bullock of Concord, CA, and other relatives and friends.

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