Christopher Larson

Christopher Dean Larson (Chris), age 69, of Muskegon, Michigan, passed away on November 1, 2023 at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids after a brief illness. Chris was born at home on Feb 3, 1954 to Marjorie and Aaron Larson in Walker Township near Grand Rapids, Michigan. His father was delighted to have a boy to share his knowledge of car repair with and sat him on the front fender of his Ford from a young age, teaching him everything he knew. Chris attended Covell Elementary School and Oakleigh Jr. High but after his father’s death he moved to Sparta, Michigan and finished his high school education there. Chris was one of those students who didn’t have much interest in school but had a brilliant mind! He loved cars and spent hours driving around the large backyard of a friend while he was in grade school. By the age of 15 he had put together his first car -a Chevy- piece by piece, starting with an engine hanging from a rope on a tree in the family driveway. Chris’ love of fast cars and driving got him in plenty of trouble at a young age. By the time he was old enough to drive, the Sparta police all knew him by name. Later in life he had a large backyard garden and grew every kind of vegetable imaginable. When his Grandpa Larson died he drove all the way to Duluth, Minnesota to pick up his old tractor. He spent many hours tweaking the tractor so that it worked just right and plowing and planting his large garden every year. He also used the tractor during the winter to plow his long driveway and the driveway of his neighbor. In the winter he built a greenhouse and grew some delicious vegetables inside his own home. He learned building and remodeling skills from his dad.

After graduation Chris’ mom wanted him to consider an electrical trade school but when she died unexpectedly, he decided against it. By age 18 his parents were both dead but he was not on his own. His Grandma Mathews lived next door to his childhood home and was always there for him with her door literally open. She never locked her door and he and his friends would wander in and out all night as they pleased. She enjoyed feeding and taking care of him for many years after his mom’s death.

One of Chris’ first jobs was detailing cars. He worked initially for a dealership and then on his own for a while. He found that he could have time for his hobbies if he drove a rural press route which he did for many years. When people stopped taking the newspaper, Chris needed to find a different job. He and Irene moved to Texas briefly where he tried to get into fracking. When that didn’t work they drove the large RV they had been living in back to Michigan and he got a job as a Truck Driver that he loved. He was happy to find out that he could get paid a LOT to do his favorite thing- driving! First his runs were to Texas and later he was able to drive every week to warm, sunny, Florida! He enjoyed this job until they started equipping the trucks with a horn that blew every time another vehicle got close. Then, when he developed a hearing loss, he was forced to retire. During retirement he dug up and cleaned off his old Camaro and was in the process of restoring it in his garage.

Chris had a good friend who was married to a Filipino woman named Sandy. When Chris expressed an interest in meeting a Filipino woman, Sandy connected him with her niece, Irene Genita. The 2 of them began writing letters in 2003 and finally met when Chris traveled to the Philippines in 2005 to file a petition to bring Irene to the U.S.A.. They were married in the yard of his current home on April 26, 2006 and have been married 17 years. Chris and Irene have enjoyed staying home to work on their home and in their yard, but have also traveled all over the U.S. They have seen Noah’s Ark, the Creation Museum and walked the Mackinac bridge on Labor day! Their first dog, Ralph, loved to ride with them in the car. Chris loved that dog and is probably happy to see him again!

Chris was preceded in death by his parents Aaron and Marjorie Larson and a sister Becky Ziny. He is survived by his wife, Irene Larson, a sister, Deb Sugiyama (David), his brother-in-law Dave Ziny, many nieces and nephews and special friends Bob and Sandy Guiles and Glenn and Rashsel Colby.

A gathering will take place Saturday November 11 to exchange memories of Chris from 3-5 pm at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints- 18975 168th Ave. Spring Lake MI. Please RSVP to Irene or Deb for details.