Jeanne E. Larkin

Jeanne Emma Larkin, age 72, of Blue Earth, died Saturday, February 19, 2011 at her residence. She was surrounded by her husband and her children. Memorial Services will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2011, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Earth at 1:30 p.m. with Rev. Wes Hafner officiating. Burial will follow at a later date at Lakeside Cemetery of Fairmont, Minnesota. Patton Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Blue Earth is assisting the family with the arrangements. Tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com. Expressions of sympathy are preferred in the form of memorial donations to the Jeanne Larkin Scholarship Fund. Donations may be sent to the family residence at 413 South Nicollet Street, Blue Earth, Minnesota, 56013.Jeanne was loved by so many and will be greatly missed. Her love of life was felt by all who knew her. She was always ready with a smile and a hug. She and her family were an example of courage and faith during the course of her battle with cancer. No more sorrow, no more tears, no more suffering, as she is now in the presence of God.Jeanne was born the daughter of Emil Charles and Marie Amelia (Wiese) Koenck on December 22, 1938 in Kossuth County, Iowa. She was raised and educated in Pemberton and Welcome, Minnesota. Jeanne attended Truman Parochial School and graduated from Welcome High School in 1956 as Salutatorian. She married Larry Lee Larkin on August 23, 1959 at Immanuel Lutheran, in Fairmont. Following their marriage they lived in Fairmont, Cannon Falls, and Welcome, Minnesota as well as Britt, Iowa, and later Blue Earth, MN.Jeanne worked for 31 years as a High School Secretary at Blue Earth High School, retiring January 9, 2001. Earlier in her life she worked for 3M, ASCS in Fairmont, and for BrittTech in Britt, Iowa. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her, including the thousands of students and staff whose lives she touched at Blue Earth High School.Jeanne is survived by her husband, Larry Lee Larkin of Blue Earth; her two daughters Kathy (Kris) Larkin of Green Bay, WI; Laurie (Dean) Schons of Gaylord, MN; her son, Dan (Mary) Larkin of Idyllwild, CA; granddaughter Lindsay Franke; grandson, Tyler Franke; step granddaughter Abby (Travis) Fritsvold; step grandson, Blake Schons; her brothers and sisters, Eileen (Lyle) Geer, Robert (Barbara) Koenck, Loyal (Susie) Koenck, Larry Koenck, David (Kathy) Koenck, and Kay (Chuck) Steinberg.Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, William, Paul, Merlyn, and her sister, Gail.