Mary Larson

Mary M. (Havlik) Larson, of La Crosse, passed peacefully on Sunday, November18, 2012, surrounded by family. She was born on October6, 1925, to Joseph and Marie Havlik. Graduated from Aquinas High School in 1944. On October 17, 1946, Mary married Howard Larson, her childhood sweetheart, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in La Crosse.

Mary was an accomplished pianist and organist for over 60 years until her retirement. She started playing organ accompaniments for the adult choir at Holy Trinity Catholic Church while in the eight grade, with the majority of her musical career at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, and briefly playing at St. Elias Eastern Orthodox Church.

She valued education and pursued a wide variety of interests including the arts, theater, music, traveling, aviation, reading, painting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, needle point, flower arrangements, and cooking. In her early years, she often exhibited her sewing and cooking skills at the La Crosse County Fair, bringing home several blue ribbons.

Mary and her husband, Howard, operated and owned Larsons IGA in La Crosse. They were well known for their specialty meats and catering activities, including numerous church luncheons.

She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. Mary delighted with her childrens and grandchildrens many accomplishments. She will be deeply missed by her family.

She is survived by her children, Mary Larson, of Platteville, Wis., Louise (Dale) Dick of Barneveld, Wis., Jean Larson of Eden Prairie, Minn., John (Kathy) Larson of South Lake, Texas, Miriam Mimi Larson of Rockford, Illinois, Julie (Rick) Wateski of LaCrosse, and Peter (Margie) Larson of Long Beach, Cal., grandchildren Adam, David, Brian, Christina, Eric, Alan, Pete, and Nina, many nieces, nephews, and her brothers Joseph (Marian) Havlik, Thomas (Jean) Havlik, and Jerome (Mary) Havlik.

Mary was preceded in death by her loving husband Howard, her parents Joseph and Marie Havlik, brothers Michael and John Havlik, and a sister, Therese (Havlik) Reynolds.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, November 25, at 10:30 a.m., at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd. So., La Crosse. Rev. David Olson will officiate. Entombment will follow at St. Francis of Assisi Mausoleum in the Catholic Cemetery. Friends may call at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home, 200 West Ave. So., La Crosse, on Friday from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m., with a rosary recited at 5:30p.m. Visitation will also be at the church on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service. Memorials may be directed to the Music Ministry at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, La Crosse, or the Childrens Miracle Network at Gundersen Lutheran, LaCrosse..