Obituary of Jean Irene Larson

Jean Irene Larson was 90 years old when she departed this life to meet her savior, Jesus Christ, face to face on August 2, 2022. She had been living in Colorado, near her family, since 2007.Jean was a Londoner, born within the sound of Bow Bells on June 8, 1932, to parents Charles and Ethel Newland. She was one of seven sisters, whom their dad called his "seven dancing fools," and two brothers.�World War II separated the family as most of the children, including Jean, were moved out of London away from their parents to live with families in the country. This experience loomed large throughout Jean's life�and may have partly explained her intense love of family.�When Jean first came to the U.S. to visit a sister in 1955, she met the handsome Robert James Larson, a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, whom she married that year. Despite living in the U.S. ever since, she�never lost her endearing English accent. After forty-six years of devoted marriage, Bob died from health complications from wartime service. Living twenty-one years without her husband would have been hard enough, but in�1976 Jean suffered the loss of her firstborn, also Robert James Larson, in an airplane crash, when he was just 21 years old. She lived most of her life with a broken heart, something she kept well hidden behind a�veneer of laughter and gregarious conversation.��Jean never met a stranger and people were quickly drawn to her friendly disposition.She is survived by her only other child, Michael Larson, and daughter-in-law, JoAnne, and their children, Jean's only grandchildren, David, Jessica, and Katherine. Jean was excited about great-grandson, David Robert,�who is due to be born to David and his wife Lindsay this fall. Four of her sisters are still dancing, Hilda, Ruby, Margaret, and Barbara, as is brother, Charlie.�Family was always Jean's priority. She poured herself into her two boys during times that were often challenging, including Bob being away during multiple tours in Vietnam and other stress-inducing locations, with�precious little money. The adage in those days rang true: "If the Marine Corps wanted you to have a family, it would have issued you one." Being acquainted with those hardships, Jean volunteered to help families�of enlisted soldiers as a very active part of the Navy Relief Fund organization during most of Bob's almost thirty years in the military. She entered the paying workforce later in life, after he retired from the Marine�Corps, and she quickly proved her worth to a bowling company and was moved into the management ranks.While Jean was a patriotic naturalized citizen, even volunteering countless hours to the AMVETS organization, she nonetheless considered everything British to be of the highest quality-her English tea and�scones, Royal Doulton China, her Tobi Jug collection, and Quality Street Candies. Her favorite time of year was Christmas, as was evident to neighbors who couldn't sleep for the number of lights strung around�Jean and Bob's house, and to grandchildren who were treated to a winter wonderland of fun at Nana Jean's, even though she was living in the warm south at the time. She was sure to be ready any other time of year as well,�with popsicles, Lego sets, toy cars, plastic dinosaurs, books, swing sets, and long bubble baths in the jacuzzi tub. Since she couldn't be with her own grandkids 24/7, she showered her love on the children in her�church AWANA program, and volunteered her time (with her granddaughter) to Feed the Children.Because of Jean's lifelong love of children, her family asks that in lieu of flowers, any gift be made to Compassion International, a favorite of Jean's, which serves children in need. Go to (compassion.com) and�select "Gift Catalog" at the top of the web page. At the end of the donation process, you may select an honor card in Jean's memory. If you have trouble you can speak to a Compassion representative at 1-800-336-7676 Monday-Friday 7AM-5:30PM Mountain Time. Thank you for considering supporting a great cause in memory of Jean.Jean will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery next to her husband, Robert. There will be a private family graveside service. Events Final Resting Place Arlington National Cemetery 1 Memorial Avenue Arlington , VA 22211