Funeral services for Larry Dennis Carlsen, 71, of Clarks Grove, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Clarks Grove. The Rev. Roger Davies will officiate. Interment will be in the Clarks Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Larry died peacefully at his home Wednesday, April 28, 2010, following a five-year struggle with the chronic lung disease, IPF (ideopathic pulmonary fibrosis).
Larry Dennis Carlsen was born on Oct. 3, 1938, to Walter and Doris (Hanson) Carlsen in Albert Lea. Larry grew up on the Carlsen farm northeast of Clarks Grove. He attended District 82 country school through 8th grade and then Albert Lea High School, graduating in 1956. Larry served in the United States Navy from 1956 too 1959. On Aug. 19, 1961, Larry was united in marriage to Karen Joyce Cox in Hollandale. He was the co-owner of Geneva Electronics. Larry was a member of the First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove and served on the Clarks Grove Volunteer Fire Department. Larry enjoyed fixing cars and just about anything else. He enjoyed camping, fishing, golfing, hunting, woodworking, traveling and loved spending time with his family and friends. For the past eight years Larry has also enjoyed being a snowbird in Arizona.
Survivors include his wife, Karen; daughters: Dawn Hanna of Clarks Grove and Denise and Scott McGowan of Lander, Wyo.; grandchildren: Nicole Hanna and friend Andrew Smith of Maple Grove and Katie and Amy McGowan of Lander, Wyo.; sisters: Lorraine Severson of Clarks Grove, Lucy and Duane (Corky) Hagen of Eufaula, Ala., and Diane and John Henline of Texarkana, Texas; brothers: Howard and Mary Carlsen of Spicer and Dale and Sandy Carlsen of Rome, Ga.; sister-in-law, Carol Carlsen of Madrid, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents; brothers: Marv and Lowell Carlsen; sisters-in-law: Audrey Carlsen, and Mabel Carlsen; and brother-in-law, Ray Severson.