Michael David Larson, 82, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away at Oak Crest, Monday, March 3, 2025.
He was born February 2, 1943, in DeKalb, Illinois, the eldest son of Leon and Dorothy (Schade) Larson.
Mike was a proud graduate of DeKalb High School and Northwestern University, where he became a brother in the Sigma Chi Fraternity and graduated with degrees in accounting and business administration. He met the love of his life, Mary Frances Siler, on a blind date at Northwestern and thought to himself, “I’m going to marry that girl.” And he did. On September 10, 1966, the couple was married. Mike was in the United States Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia at the time and was deployed the very next day to Nuremburg, Germany where he and Mary spent the first two years of their marriage traveling around Europe as much as possible.  Mike was honorably discharged in May 1972 at the rank of 1st Lieutenant.
Mike returned to work at Elmer Larson alongside his grandfather and father, eventually joined by his two brothers and many others over the years who became like a part of the family.  In 1975 and 1977, Mike and Mary adopted their two children, Barbara and Daniel. Mike’s hard work at Elmer Larson provided a wonderful life for Mary, Barb, and Dan.  Mike and Mary ensured Barb and Dan received an excellent education, Catholic upbringing, and many opportunities, including ski trips in Colorado, a wedding in Spain, and enjoying beautiful beaches and excellent family dinners in Aruba. Mike’s favorite Sunday ritual was watching the Chicago Bears games on TV or at Soldier Field, having been a season ticket holder for decades.

Mike not only enjoyed working for his family, but also his industry and community. Mike served on several Industry Boards of Directors including the Illinois Aggregate Association (IAAP), Northern Illinois Material Producers (NIMPA), National Stone Association (NSA), National Aggregate Association (NAA), and eventually the combination of the two, National Stone, Sand, & Gravel Association (NSSGA).  Mike formed several partnerships and developed residential and commercial property in DeKalb, Sycamore, Cortland, and Waterman. He dedicated his time to both DeKalb and Sycamore communities by serving on the Chambers of Commerce, named to the DeKalb Chamber Hall of Fame in 2014, Kishwaukee Family YMCA Board, DeKalb County Community Foundation, DeKalb County Builders and Developers, ReNew DeKalb as Vice-President, the Kishwaukee Community Hospital/KishHealth System Board of Directors for 13 years, being named chair in 2012, as well as several other councils, committees, and associations. He was philanthropic and generous to St. Mary’s, Oak Crest, and many other causes and individuals. As a result of his dedicated service, Mike was the recipient of multiple awards such as the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce’s Clifford Danielson Outstanding Citizen Award in January of 2016.

Mike was very proud of his four grandsons, Michael, Ian, Syler, and Cayden, providing a college education for each of them. He regaled them with tales of caution from his own youth and encouraged them to be successful. Michael followed in his grandfather’s footsteps, earning his Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Accounting. Syler will graduate in May with dual degrees like his grandpa, but in Medical Management & Business Technology, with a minor in Finance. Ian also graduates in May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Management and Associate Degree in Science Aviation Flight. He is already a pilot like his grandpa was until he experienced a “hard landing” at the DeKalb Airport and gave up flying. Cayden has only just begun his tertiary education path, but no doubt will make his grandpa even more proud of him than he already was.

Possibly most importantly, Michael Larson loved golf. He always said, “it never rains on the golf course” and his “knees never hurt when he was on the golf course.” Over the years, he played in many tournaments at the Kishwaukee Country Club in DeKalb. In 2006, Mike and son Daniel competed in the Bemis sponsored Mercedes Benz Open, winning in DeKalb, then Pinehurst, North Carolina, culminating in competition at the Kapalua Resort in Maui, Hawaii.  Mike and his brothers, Steve and John, were honored when the bar was named the Larson Brothers Lounge after the new Kishwaukee Clubhouse was constructed. After his wife Mary passed, the Mighty Kish and the friends that he made filled the void of that loss.

Michael is survived, and will be dearly missed, by his children, Barbara (Daryl Filkins) Larson and Daniel Larson; his grandsons Michael Decker, Ian Decker, Syler Larson, and Cayden Larson; his siblings and brothers/sisters-in-law Susan Burch, Stephen (Bill) and Barb Larson, Janet and Chuck Austin, and John and Donna Larson; his cousin Nancy Caparros; his nieces and nephews Jamie Pesek, Andrea Larson, Shannon Burch, Jeffrey Larson, Michaela Larson, Karsten Larson, Caitlin Austin, and Jessica Austin.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, the beautiful Mary Larson, his parents, Leon and Dorothy Larson, his nephew Lee Burch, and his brother-in-law Thomas Burch.

Visitation will be held April 11, from 4-7pm at St. Mary’s Parish Hall, 322 Waterman St., Sycamore, IL 60178. Funeral Mass will be held April 12, at 10:30am at The Church of St. Mary, 322 Waterman St., Sycamore, IL 60178, followed by Military Color Guard outside of the church, then burial of Michael and Mary Larson’s ashes at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, 1100 West State St., Sycamore, IL 60178.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the ALS Association of Chicago in care of the Anderson Funeral Home, 2011 S 4th St, DeKalb, IL 60115.