Robert "Bob" Louis Larsen passed away in Laramie, Wyo., on July 22, 2015 at 97. Bob was born in Rawlins, Wyo., on June 1, 1918 to Louis Christian "Chris" and Martha Larsen. Bob was 18 months old before he met his dad as Chris was serving in WWI.
Bob grew up in Rawlins excelling in school and enjoying life with his six brothers and sisters. Bob served in the 71st Army Division in WWII as a company clerk, allowing him to hone his love of organizing and photography.
After the war, he and his brother Peter moved to the Peter Hansen family ranch south of Rawlins. In addition to normal ranching activities they tried raising turkeys that Bob acquired with GI funds. Bob and Peter were both married, and Bob realized that the ranch would not support two families. He and his wife, Georgia (Cameron), moved to Laramie where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering.
After graduating, he worked for Marathon Oil Company in Hatfield (south of Rawlins), Sidney, Neb., and Lance Creek, Wyo. He returned to Rawlins to join the family business, H. Larsen Hardware Store.
One day, a Marathon co-worker offered Bob a job in Tripoli, Libya, North Africa for the Oasis Oil Company-he accepted the offer. Bob and Georgia gathered their four children, and headed to Libya in 1961. He worked, raised his family and traveled the world until returning to Wyoming in 1971. What a wonderful gift living overseas was to his children!
Bob became a part owner of a vermiculite operation in Encampment, Wyo. Not long after, Georgia was diagnosed with lung cancer and they moved to California to seek medical care. He cared for Georgia and worked for a window grate company. After Georgia's death in 1973, Bob went to Algeria as a Consulting Engineer. In 1974, he married Patricia Sullivan Queal, a long-time friend of both Bob and Georgia. Bob and Patricia went on to live in Algeria, Pakistan, England, Ireland, and Scotland.
In 1985 Bob retired, moving to Patricia's family home in Laramie, Wyo. Patricia died in 2000. Bob remained in their home until his death.
Throughout his life he was committed to his family; caring for his mother and father, his spouses, his siblings and his children. He remained involved with the Peter Hansen Ranch, helping Peter and caring for the "recreational" area for the enjoyment of all his family. He made sure we all had a wonderful place to go. Bob loved working, dancing, playing the violin, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a deeply spiritual Catholic. His welcoming ways endeared him to all he met; he offered a place at the table to all; and supported his children unconditionally.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Chris Larsen, sister Denise Gove, brothers Peter, Boyd and Charles, and his beloved wives, Georgia Cameron Larsen and Patricia Sullivan Larsen.
He is survived by his brother Raymond Larsen, and sister Nancy Malone; children-Kristi Groshart (Lee), Robert Larsen, Karen Larsen, and Anne Larsen; step-children-Colleen Howard (Rod), and Peter Queal (Jen); grandchildren-Giselle Goulette (Dave), Owen Groshart, Andrew Groshart (Kellen), Justin Groshart and Rita Howard; great grandchildren-Hudson and Maggie Goulette, Camryn and Tucker Groshart, and Amaya Gardner; and his cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was greatly loved and is missed!
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Hospice of Laramie Building Fund. As an engineer, he would love this!
Hospice of Laramie
Hospice Building Fund
710 E. Garfield #339
Laramie, WY 82070
307.745.9254
There will be a joint memorial for Bob and his brother Peter Larsen, who passed away on Dec. 22, 2014, at the Peter Hansen Ranch on Aug. 22 at 11:30 am (call 307-320-9544 for directions). There will also be graveside services in Laramie and Rawlins later in the fall.
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