Obituary of Jeanette Lorraine Larson

Jeanette Lorraine Larson passed away Tuesday morning January 14, 2020. Jeanette was born in Omaha, Nebraska on April 24, 1925. The midwestern plains of Nebraska were her home for 76 years until she moved to South Carolina in March of 2001. Growing up in Omaha, she enjoyed many summer picnics with her family which included a twin brother and twin sisters who were 14 months younger. She experienced tragedy when she was barely 4 years old and her birth mother passed away. She was slightly more than 5 years old when her father remarried. Jeanette later authored a book about these experiences.

Jeanette survived many life tragedies. This included a horrible car accident at age 45 that left her handicapped, two aneurysms (one on her aortic arch and one on her spine), multiple joint replacements (both hips and twice the replacement of her right knee), divorced from a husband after 57 years of marriage and 4 and a half years of Hospice care; yet, everyone who ever met this wonderful woman was amazed by the joy she had for every day. Her love for life was contagious. 

Jeanette served in many ways. She was a wife for 57 years, a loving mother and mother-in-law to her three children, and care-giver for her mother for several years and care-giver for two nieces who lost their mother from cancer. She had many talents. She was a seamstress, an excellent cook and loved to entertain family and friends.

Outside the home, Jeanette worked for many years receiving inbound calls for hotel reservation companies and online sales. Jeanette retired from this line of work when she was 73.

Once Jeanette moved to Lexington, South Carolina she began to attend the Lexington Senior Center. She attended the center and served there for many years.

Later in life, Jeanette’s handicap confined her to a chair where she focused her talents on hand-sewing quilts for her family. Over the years, Jeanette also crafted many hand-sewn specialty items such as tea cups and jewelry bags. To the teacups the scripture was added, “My cup overflows”. This scripture was an outpouring of how she lived her life.

Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents, George Dewey Johnsen and Winifred Lucille Johnsen; her twin brother, Gene Laverne Johnsen; and her sisters, Bonnie Jean Stein and Betty Jane Hammerstrom. Also deceased is her husband of 57 years, John David Larson, Sr.

She is survived by her three children, John David Larson, Jr. (wife Christine, children Kelly (husband Cory, children Emma and Avery), Cody (wife Andrea, children John Ryder and Evelyn), Cliff and Christy Anna (husband Jeremy, children Chase and West) of Omaha, Nebraska, James (Jim) Paul Larson (wife Marsha and children A.J. (wife Amy, children Bailey, Kolt, Brayden and Paisley) and Tyler (wife Sheila)] of Decatur, Texas and Debra Lucille Huggins (husband Dexter, children Darrin (wife Scottie, children Chris, Taylor, Tori, Charlotte, James, Melody Rose and Delilah) and Chris (wife Jody, children Tyler and Blaine) of Lexington, South Carolina.

The family will receive friends from 6-8pm on Friday, January 17th, at Thompson Funeral Home 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC. The funeral service will be held at 12pm on Saturday, January 18th, at Calvary Chapel, 1156 Barr Rd., Lexington, SC.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Heart of Hospice Foundation, 134 Columbus Street, Charleston, SC 29403. https://www.heartofhospicefoundation.net/contactus.html