Laurie W. Larson, Jr. 82, of Belvidere, passed away Sunday morning, July 23, 2006. He is survived by his wife Phyllis; children Kim, Kyle (David Faulkner) and Todd; grandchildren Megan and Brei (Scott), Andrew and Grace (Kim), Brant, Bryce and Blake (Kyle), and Kent, Evan and Paige (Todd); brothers William (Mary), and Robert (Yvonne); brother-in-law Earl (Ruth); and four nieces and seven nephews. Laurie was born February 27, 1924 in Rockford, Illinois the son of Laurie W. Larson, Sr. and Florence Elizabeth Larson who predeceased him. Also preceding him in death were his sister, Loretta, who died in infancy: his two oldest children, Mark and Scott; and his first grandchild, Karl (Scott).Laurie attended rural schools in Winnebago and Boone counties where a teacher in a one-room school house, sensing a gifted student, gave him special attention. He would proceed to graduate Belvidere High School in 1941 as its salutatorian, earn Phi Beta Kappa honors9 and letter in baseball) at Illinois College, and graduate from University of Michigan Law School, where he wrote for the law review.A call to duty, heard by many of his era, resulted in Laurie serving over three years in the US navy in WWII, serving in both the Atlantic and South Pacific war theaters. He graduated from Columbia University Midshipman School in New York, Judge Advocate (Military) School in Washington, D.C. and attended Wabash College as a Navy V-12 student. Laurie eventually became what is believed to be the youngest captain of a major naval vessel when, at age 22, he was given the command of the U.S.S. Haas DE424, a destroyer escort.After marrying Phyllis in 1948, Laurie soon settled back home in the Belvidere area, where he raised his five children, established an active law practice of 46 years and became involved in community affairs. Three times he was elected President of the Boone County Bar Association; he served as a director of the Illinois State Bar Foundation; and a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Early in his legal career, he served Boone County as its Circuit Judge, but he preferred ( and returned to) the private practice of law, where he was joined in 1981 by his daughter, Kyle, to form Larson & Larson – They practiced together for 16 years.He was an active member of numerous community organizations (American Legion, AMVETS, Zion Lutheran Church, Council, VFW, Moose, Elks, a charter member of the Belvidere Jaycees and a President of the IOU Club), but due to a booming clear voice that required no amplification, (inherited by his son Todd), and a dry sense of humor (inherited by his son Kim), Laurie was most frequently sought out as a Master of Ceremonies for significant community events. He was especially proud to have served in this role for the Welcome Home Judi Ford Miss America 1969 ceremony, the dedication of the Belvidere Historical Museum and the Ida Public Library addition, and for the Belvidere Sesquicentennial Production. That same booming voice was also heard by Belvidere youth for many years, calling out balls and strikes from behind the plate—a way for Laurie to keep contact with his life long love of baseball. It is a voice, now quiet, that will be sorely missed by family, friends, colleagues, and all who knew him.

Laurie requested memorials be directed to either Zion Lutheran Church Youth Scholarship Fund or Belvidere YMCA Partners With Youth.