F. James Larson

Reverend F. James Larson Reverend F. James Larson, 78, of Rockford went to be with the Lord on February 4, 2008 at Cor Mariae Center in Rockford after a long illness. Father Larson was born August 23, 1929 in Rochelle, Illinois the son of Fred T. and Mary (Kennedy) Larson. Father Larson attended Catholic grade school and Rochelle Township High School graduating in 1947. Father attended the University of Illinois, Champaign from 1947 1948 and pursued his philosophical and theological training and priestly formation at the St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota from 1951 1957. Father Larson was ordained to the Sacred Priesthood by the Most Reverend Loras T. Lane at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Rockford, on May 25, 1957. Father Larson served as an Assistant Pastor at St. Mary Parish, Sterling, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Freeport, St. Patrick Parish, Rockford, and Holy Angels Parish, Aurora, from June, 1957 to June, 1968. Father was then named the Administrator for St. Catherine Parish, Freeport, St. Patrick Parish, Hartland and St. Catherine of Genoa Parish, Genoa from January 1969 to July, 1983. Father Larson was appointed Pastor of St. Bernadette Parish, Rockford on July 15, 1983 and he served as Pastor until July 14, 1989. In the course of his priestly service to so many parishes, Father Larson also held several full and part-time educational assignments. He served on the faculty of Newman Central Catholic High School, Sterling from June, 1968 to January, 1969, as Superintendent of Aquin Central Catholic High School, Freeport from January, 1969 to July, 1972, as Director of Religious Education for Marian Central Catholic High School, Woodstock from July, 1972 to July, 1974, as Assistant Diocesan Superintendent of Schools from July, 1974 to July, 1976, as Superintendent of Newman Central Catholic High School, Sterling from July, 1976 to October, 1977 and as Associate Diocesan Director of Education for Secondary and Government Programs from October, 1977 to July, 1983. Father Larson was appointed to several administrative positions in the Diocese, serving as Dean of the Rockford Deanery from August, 1986 to July, 1989, Episcopal Vicar for Clergy and Religious from July, 1989 to September, 1994, Episcopal Vicar for Catholic Education from September, 1994 to January, 1997, Episcopal Vicar for the Parish Consultations Process from February, 1997 to September, 1999, and as a member of the College of Consultors from January, 1995 to December, 1999, and a member of the Board of Directors for the Catholic Conference of Illinois from 1995 to 1998. Father Larson also served as Administrator for St. Catherine Parish, Prophetstown and St. Ambrose, Erie from July to August, 1994. One of Father Larsons last parochial assignments was as Administrator for St. Mary Parish, Tampico from June, 1997 to September, 1999 when Father Larson was granted permission to retire. Even in the early years of his retirement he remained active and was assigned the Administrator for St. Wendelin Parish, Shannon from June to July, 2001. Father Larson is survived by his brother, Joseph (Lillian) Larson; his sisters Ellen (Ken) Herrmann and Patricia (Vernon) Herrmann; his brother-in-law Joseph La Fleur and many nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Father Larson was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Junior Larson and his two sisters, Frances Johnson and Mary La Fleur. Father Larsons Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, February 8, 2008 at 11 am at Cathedral of St. Peter, 1243 N. Church St. followed by burial in St. Mary/St. James Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday at the Cathedral of St. Peter from 4 pm 7 pm with a wake service at 6:45 pm and on Friday from 9:30 am until time of Mass. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Provena Cor Mariae Center, 3330 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford, IL