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.