Jon Fred Larson

Jon F. Larson Devoted father and community pillar, Jon Fred Larson passed away from complications of pancreatic cancer on August 25, 2020 in Lakeland, Florida. Jon is survived by his wife Beverly C. Renick Larson and five children: Jon R. Larson (Beijing, China), Benjamin Larson and his wife Lauren and son Ethan (Orlando, Florida), Caroline Larson and her wife Leslie Merlin (Los Angeles, California), Andrew Larson and his wife Courtney and daughter Kinley (Ellenton, Florida), and William Larson (Lakeland, Florida). Jon is also survived by his Brother Jay Larson, his wife Donna (Payson, Arizona), their daughter Kim, and her husband Gra (Portland, Oregon). Born on September 16, 1948 to Cecil B. Larson and Alice J. Larson, Jon grew up in the Baltimore, Maryland area, graduated from Andover High School, served in the United States Navy Submarine Service, and attended the University of Maryland. Jon’s next move brought him to Amelia Island, Florida where he met his wife and the future mother of his children, Beverly. They married there on June 24, 1978, shortly before setting off for Eugene, Oregon and a later return to South and then Central Florida where he excelled in the financial planning industry. Jon had a rich professional and civic life in Florida, where he served as President of the Coral Springs and Lakeland Downtown chapters of the Rotary Club, also writing the monthly bulletins. Jon also served as Chairman of the Board for the Central Florida Speech and Hearing Center and was selected for membership in Leadership Lakeland. Jon was perhaps most famous for ringing of the bell for the Salvation Army each year and his recurrent role as Santa Clause. Family and acquaintances remember him most for his sense of humor, his joyful presence, and his absolute service to his family and to every community to which they moved.