John R. Larson, age 68, a favorite son of Porter, Ind., passed away on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at the VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso, after suffering a stroke on Saturday, Oct. 1, at his home in Valparaiso.

He is survived by his wife Geri, step-daughter Kelly Sullivan and his favorite step-grandson Shaun, of Rochester, Ind.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Reginald and Dorothy Larson, his two sisters Marilyn Brown, of Portage and Virginia Visscher, of Grosse Point, Michigan, as well as his aunts, Margaret and Violet Larson and uncles Fritz Larson and William Moulton.

Larson became interested in politics after reading John F. Kennedy’s book, “Profiles in Courage,” in 1959.

He graduated from Chesterton High School in 1961 and from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1965.

He taught government at Washington Township High School and served in the Indiana State Senate from 1972 to 1980.

Larson also served as a principal for the Catholic Diocese of Gary, was principal at North Newton High School and later taught at Indiana University Northwest in Gary.

After cremation, a memorial gathering will be held at a later date with his 1961 CHS classmates. Memorials may be made to the VNA Hospice in Valparaiso.

Posted 10/17/2011