Russell Larsen

Mr. Russell Wallace Larsen, age 87, formerly of Greenville, Michigan passed away Saturday evening, July 26, 2008 at Fountain Park Retirement Community in Bryan, Ohio. The son of Peter & Lena (Nielsen) Larsen, he was born on July 16, 1921 in McBride, Michigan. Following his graduation from Greenville High School, he married Margaret Pauline "Polly" Kain on April 11, 1942 at Sand Lake. Answering the call of his country, Russell served in the U.S. Army and was a decorated veteran of World War II. After returning home, he and Polly designed and built their first home and operated Larsen Caged Egg Factory west of Greenville. Beginning in 1951 and for the next 40 years Russell worked as a machinist at Federal-Mogul in Greenville, in addition to helping with maintenance duties in his wifes business, Pollys Beauty Shop and Apparel Store. After retiring he and Polly moved to North Carolina before moving to northwest Ohio in 2005 to be closer to family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Polly Larsen, just a month ago on June 25, 2008. Also preceding him in death were his parents; an infant son, Randy Larsen; four sisters, Mabel Christensen, Hazel Christiansen, Helen Guinnup, and Martha Harding; and two brothers, Elvin Larsen, and Howard Larsen. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Kathy & Bill Small of Defiance, Ohio; a son and daughter-in-law, Patrick & Vickie Larsen of Greenville; five grandchildren; three great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2008 from the Brown-Teman & Christiansen Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, Michigan with the Rev. Ken Harger, pastor of Shiloh Community Church, officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at St. Charles Catholic Cemetery. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Russell Larsen, please visit our flower store.