Douglas "Herb" Larson

Douglas “Herb” Larson was born in St. Paul, MN on February 28, 1951 to Cherie (Sundberg) and Captain Ron Larson. The second of four children, Doug spent his childhood in Rochester. He graduated from Rochester Mayo High School in 1969 and Rochester Vocational School, as a Machinist, in 1972. He married Jon Marie Harris on July 26, 1975 and they moved to St. Cloud, where he worked at Brown Boveri until the early 80’s; after which, Jon Marie went to work while Doug immersed himself in raising their two young sons and designing and building the family home along Riverside Avenue in Sartell. Doug also started Larson Boat Rental, which offered watercraft trips down the Sauk and Mississippi Rivers. In 1989 Doug obtained his Tax Preparation Certification, working for H&R Block and starting a tax business in his home. Soon after, he opened and successfully operated Sartell Tax Service for nearly 20 years until 2008 when health issues forced him to retire.

Doug always had a sense of adventure. He became a Harley Davidson enthusiast in the late 60’s, living out his “rebel” years of fun and friendship with Jon Marie and others through the 80’s. After becoming a father, he channeled his love of water and passion for adventure into sailing. He received his Captain Certification in 1988 and for nearly two decades, “Capt. Herb” and family used the tax “off season” to explore the world on three different boats. The first boat they owned, “Tropical Breeze”, a 32-foot monohull, sailed with Jon Marie and family friends to the British Virgin Islands, American Virgin Islands, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and docked in Florida before crossing the Atlantic through Bermuda and the Azores Islands to England; continuing on to France, Holland, and Belgium, Doug continued to Norway, Sweden and finally Denmark, where the boat was sold. In 1995, Doug built a 34- foot long Trimaran, “Wind Bourne” in the yard of his Sartell home. Launching from Duluth, he sailed with his family and friends through the Great Lakes and down the Atlantic coast to Florida, Cuba, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

His penultimate life achievement was his hand-built 35-foot Catamaran named "JoDo BeEr" (2003), the namesake is a combination of the first two letters of each family member. With Eric as crew, they started in Duluth, sailed through the Great Lakes to Bermuda, the Azores Islands, Spain and Portugal, where Jon Marie joined him to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary. His third trans-Atlantic crossing landed him in Trinidad. Gaining Bert as crew, they sailed through the Grenadines, St. Maarten, the French Indies, St. Bart’s, St. Kitts and Antigua, crossed the Caribbean sea and docked in Georgia, USA.

Along with sailing, the family has fond memories of Doug coaching the boys’ soccer teams, supporting their sports and activities, teaching them to fish and hunt, and hosting a houseful of boys for Sunday afternoon Football games.

Doug is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 37 years, Jon Marie of Sartell; son and daughter-in-law, Bert and Nadia (Centralia, IL) and their children Zayla and expected Baby Boy; son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Shanna (St. Paul) and their children Samuel and Charlotte; brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Pam Larson (Plymouth, IN); sister, Janine Farnell (Fountain City, WI); brother-in-law, Darwin Johnson (Scottsdale, AZ); Jon Marie’s seven brothers and sisters and their spouses; nieces and nephews and many cherished friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Captain Ron and Cherie; sister, Charlene; and two brothers-in-law.

Doug was diagnosed with Dementia of Alzheimer’s Type, Jon Marie cared for him in home until October when he moved to Sterling House of Sauk Rapids and passed away on September 7, 2012 due to complications of the illness. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that memorials be made to the family to be distributed to the Alzheimer’s Association and Hospice.

The family would like to thank the health care staff and medical professionals at Sterling House and St. Cloud Hospice for taking such wonderful care of Doug.

Visitation will be on Saturday, September 22, at Daniel Funeral Home in Sartell from 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. with a Service at 4:30 p.m. Celebration of life to follow at Riverboat Depot in Sartell from 5:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m. Dress is casual as that was Doug’s “Island Time” style.