Allan Clifford Larsen Obituary (1949

Allan Clifford Larsen, 66, died Tuesday, June 14, 2016, at CHI Health Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha Neb. after fighting a long and courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis for 35 years. A memorial visitation will be held Tuesday, June 21, 2016, from 6 to 8 p.m. with family receiving friends at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair, Neb. with a prayer service at 7:00PM, A Celebration of Life will be Friday, July 22nd at Petersen's Bar 75 in Herman at 6:00 with live music starting at 8:00. Allan was born October 8, 1949 to Clifford and Carmen (Andersen) Larsen. Throughout his youth, he became interested in music, basketball, baseball, working on cars, saddle club, and hunting. In high school, he played guitar in his first band, The Stepping Stones, and in later years “Keith & Al” He graduated from Herman High School in 1967 and went on to attend Wayne State College. He then took a job at Jensen Well Co. in Blair, returned to Herman and married Rita (Christiansen) Larsen on December 20, 1969. Four children were born to this union; Lee Allan, Troy Ryan, Jewel Renae and Jodie Christine. In 1971, he joined his father to work on the family farm. His recreations included playing softball, volleyball, motorcycling, snowmobiling, and boating. He sang and played bass guitar for the band The Bootleggers for years, competing in several country music competitions and playing countless bars and weddings. He had a warm-hearted kindness, selflessness, and a unique sense of humor. Whether it be a pizza, a rump roast, or any other kind of food, he would always say "you guys go ahead, i'll just eat whatever scraps are left". The annual Allan Larsen-led family vacations were an experience not far from Clark Griswold and his excapades in the "Vacation" movies. Far too many flat tires on the station wagon (and we're not even to Tekamah yet!) On a trip to St. Louis, we even had his wheel-chair strapped to the top (6 people and our bags in the family truckster); Skiing behind the pontoon boat with a 25 horse motor!! (that took some upper body strength to get up); Breaking down, then getting lost with the Wideners on one of many trips to Gavin's Point Dam (as long as you get across the river, right??!!)--thus Al & Kenny acquiring CB radio handles "wrong-way" and "breakdown". In his later years, his desire for a good cup of coffee and some conversation led him to drive down the shoulder of the road into town on first his 6-wheeler ATV, then on his motorized chair when he could no longer park his 6-wheeler in the DOORWAY of the Redbird; Who could blame him. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Carmen (Andersen) Larsen, father and mother-in-law Eugene and Joan (Cameron) Christiansen, and sister Judy (Larsen) Petersen. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Rita; four children, Lee and wife Jenny of Herman, Neb., Troy and wife Jill of Lincoln, Neb., Jewel Larsen of Papillion, Neb. and Jodie Schuett and husband Wade of Herman, Neb.; sister Jo Ann (Larsen) Engelkemier and husband Gene of Huntsville, Ala; brother-in-law Jeff Christiansen of Blair, Neb; and five grandchildren: Joshua, Lauren, and Ashley Larsen; and Easton and Colby Schuett.