Jay C Larson

Jay C. Larson, 61, of La Crescent, Minnesota and formerly of the Twin Cities, died unexpectedly at his home on December 20, 2012.

Jay was born on February 4, 1951 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Warren and Maxine (Cleaveland) Larson. He was a graduate of Edina High School, class of 1969, and played on the first Edina hockey team to win the Minnesota State High School hockey tournament. He went on to attend the University of Minnesota where he was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He had a long career as a realtor in the Twin Cities and still maintained his real estate license.

He married Barbara Weigent on December 31, 1985. In 1994 they decided to relocate to La Crescent, Minnesota. Jay immediately established himself as an avid supporter and coach in the La Crescent Youth Hockey Association. He was employed with Skipperliner Marine and most recently with Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in the facilities maintenance department. He also established a handyman service he named Coach Jays, because he loved the idea of helping people learn about home maintenance.

Jay lived life large, without compromise, and life loved him back. Everyone was a potential friend and he touched many people throughout his life. His passions were hockey and hunting. He had several hunting properties in Western Minnesota in partnerships with friends of over forty years. He loved to invite some of his more recent friends from La Crescent to hunt with him there. He and his wife raised five Labradors over their twenty-seven years of marriage. They recently purchased a house in Ortonville, Minnesota, near Jays hunting land, which they planned to renovate as a future retirement home.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, his siblings Laurie, Randy, Bradley, Derwood and Terry, as well as many other additional family members. He was preceded in death by his parents.

In respecting Jays wishes, there will be a memorial gathering on Saturday, December 29, 2012 from 12:00-3:00 PM at the Schumacher Kish Funeral Home, 111 S. Oak St., La Crescent. His cremated remains will be scattered at a later date. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to La Crescent Youth Hockey Association.