Dr. Arthur William Larson Jr's Obituary
Colonel Arthur W. Larson, Jr., MD, U.S. Army (Ret.)
August 22, 1940 — May, 11, 2026
“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Dr. Arthur W. Larson, Jr., Colonel, United States Army (Ret.), was called home to his Heavenly Father on May, 11, 2026 at the age of 85, surrounded by the family he loved so dearly.
Born in New Britain, Connecticut on August 22, 1940, Arthur was raised in the Catholic faith and remained a devout believer throughout his life. His faith was the foundation of everything he did — his marriage, his family, his medicine, and his service to his country. He attended Mass faithfully and lived out the corporal works of mercy in the most literal sense, healing the sick and caring for the wounded.
A proud graduate of Georgetown University School of Medicine, Arthur viewed medicine not merely as a profession but as a true vocation. He carried his faith with him throughout a distinguished career as a Thoracic and Cardiovascular surgeon in private practice in Lewiston, Maine, and through decades of service to our country in the United States Army Medical Corps. In every setting, he offered not only exceptional skill as a healer but also a quiet, steady witness as a man of God.
Rising to the rank of Colonel, Arthur served as a combat surgeon in Operation Desert Storm and held several senior leadership roles, including Acting Commander of the 1125th, Chief of Professional Services, and Chief of Staff. He was also a respected instructor and lecturer in the treatment of battlefield wounds, sharing his expertise with countless military physicians who followed in his footsteps.
He met the love of his life, Ellen, and together they built a marriage that endured for 63 years — a living testimony to the sacrament they shared. Together they welcomed seven children into the world and raised them in the same faith that had guided their own lives.
Arthur is survived by his beloved Ellen; his children Maria (Chris) McDonald, Julie Elzweig, Art Larson, Michael Larson, Mark (Cherie) Larson, and Karen (Tim) Hangge, his brother John (Elaine) Larson, 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren who knew him as a gentle, faithful patriarch. He was preceded in death by his cherished daughter Michelle (Kyle) Vena, his grandchildren Tiffany Larson, Shana Mishali, and Jaryd Buckowski, his parents, Arthur Larson and Anne Savonis, his brother Paul Larson and sister Judy Larson, where Arthur now joins them in the company of the saints.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at War Veteran’s Memorial Park on June 22, 2026 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. The family takes comfort in the words of Scripture: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
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