The funeral service for Robert &8220;Bob&8221; Earl Larson will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 12, at First Baptist Church, Albert Lea. The Rev. Clayton Balsley will officiate. Burial will be in Clarks Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m., with a Masonic service at 6 p.m., Sunday at Bonnerup Funeral Service in Albert Lea and one hour before the service at the church. Military honors will be accorded by

Albert Lea veterans’ organizations.

Robert died on Wednesday, June 7, 2006, at Albert Lea Medical Center in Albert Lea. He was 87 years old.

Robert was born in Clarks Grove on April 12, 1919, the son of Albert and Helen (Larsen) Larson. He was baptized at First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove and is a graduate of Albert Lea High School. During World War II he served as an ambulance driver with the U.S. Army in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 1942 to 46.

On Dec. 21, 1941, he was united in marriage with DeLoris Hanson in Clarks Grove. They were members of First Baptist Church of Clarks Grove and then First Baptist Church of Albert Lea where Robert had been a custodian for 20 years, retiring in December 2005.

Robert had worked for 33 years as a butter maker at Clarks Grove, Albert Lea, and Twin Lakes creameries. He then worked in maintenance for the Albert Lea YMCA and Thorne Crest Retirement Center, retiring in 1984. He was a member of the Masons, Shriners, and Eastern Star, where he had held several offices, and he was also a member of the American Legion and VFW.

Robert enjoyed watching sporting events and was an avid Twins fan. He also enjoyed attending his children’s and grandchildren’s activities and sporting events, playing horse shoes, cribbage, and cards with his family. He had fun driving the Shriner cars in parades, taking care of his yard and being outdoors, and roller skating into his 60s. Having coffee with friends was important to him.

Robert is survived by four children:

Pat (Larry) Jensen of Houston, Texas, Dorene Gonzalez

of Albert Lea, Richard Larson of Benton, Ill., Jim (Amy) Larson of Eagan; seven grandchildren: Doni Downey of Tucson, Ariz., Amanda Jensen of Houston, Texas, Anina Jensen of Houston, Texas, James (Breanna) Gonzalez of Burnsville, George (Meredith) Gonzalez of Albert Lea, Emily and Adam Larson of Eagan; five great-grandchildren: Taylor Jensen of Houston, Texas, Jacob Jensen of Tucson, Ariz., Cody and Morgan Downey of Tucson, Ariz., Hunter Gonzalez of Burnsville, Griffin Gonzalez of Albert Lea; one sister, Avis (Eldert) DeRaad of Clarks Grove; one brother, Ralph (Lorraine) Larson of Rochester; two sisters-in-law: Maurine Larson of Albert Lea and June Larson of Albert Lea; many nieces and nephews.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; wife, DeLoris in 2005; two sons:

Paul and Harold in infancy; two brothers: Charles and John Larson; brother-in-law, Orace Hanson; father and mother-in-law, Henry and Maude Hanson; sister-in-law, Eileen Hanson.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Shriner’s Children Hospital or the First Baptist Church of Albert Lea.