Shirley Larkin
Shirley Larkin, 89, of Waukon died Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Good Samaritan Society in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, July 12 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon with Pastor Bryan Robertson officiating. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon handled arrangements.
Shirley Jean Larkin was born December 7, 1935, in Waukon, the daughter of Merrill Henry and Leone Eunice (Bacon) Gruber. She was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, attended rural Eells Country School and graduated from Waukon High School in 1954.
February 27, 1960, she married Cyril Larkin at St. Mary’s Hanover in rural Waukon. Shirley and Cyril farmed in Union Prairie Township in rural Waukon, where they raised beef cattle, hogs, sheep and crops. She loved working on the farm, especially driving tractor, doing the field work, and caring for the animals.
Shirley was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where she was very active in the ladies’ groups. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and was very active in the neighborhood bible study group. Shirley enjoyed taking care of her yard and working with her plants and flowers. She also enjoyed bowling and belonged to a bowling league. Above all, Shirley loved spending time with her family and pets, cherishing the moments they spent together.
Survivors include her husband, Cyril, of Waukon; her daughters: Jackie (Steve Lapham) Larkin of Ridgeway, Judy (Tom) Kemp of Decorah, and Dani (Jason) Jones of Mauston, WI; five grandchildren: Ian (Rachel) Kemp, Jordan (Richard Jones) Kemp, Cyrilla (Chad Lechtenberg) Meyer, Max Kemp and Tashina Meyer; seven great-grandchildren: Adelina Meyer, Lester Erickson IIII, Maci Kemp, Leo Gooder, Cora Lechtenberg, Alayna Kemp, and Judelyn Gooder; a brother-in-law, Emmett Larkin; and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Merrill Bev Gruber; a granddaughter, Coletta Meyer; and a son-in-law, Albert Meyer.
Honorary casketbearers were Jordan Kemp, Cyrilla Meyer, and Tashina Meyer. Casketbearers were Ian and Max Kemp, Richard Jones, Chad Lechtenberg, Dan Lyons, and Kenny Baumler.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
