Cover photo for Joanne Elaine (Matthew)  Larson's Obituary
Joanne Elaine (Matthew)  Larson Profile Photo
1939 Joanne 2021

Joanne Elaine (Matthew) Larson

June 3, 1939 — March 30, 2021

Davenport Barrington

Joanne Elaine Larson (nee Matthew) was born in Sterling, IL on June 3, 1939, to William and Marie Matthew.  She passed away on March 30, 2021.

Joanne met her husband, Gaylen Larson, while both were involved in the Illinois 4-H program. They married while attending Northern Illinois University.

A 48-year resident of Barrington, Joanne and Gaylen also lived in Mt. Prospect, Wilton (CT), and Austin (TX).  In Barrington, Joanne took a very active interest in local government.  She spent many years as the Lake Barrington village clerk, served multiple terms as a village trustee and president, and was instrumental in the establishment of the Grassy Lake Forest Preserve.

Anybody who knew Joanne also knew of her love for gardening, especially daylilies.  Joanne was actively involved with her local gardening club and with the American Daylily Society (AHS).  She was awarded AHS’s highest honor in 2014 for her involvement at the National Level.  The daylily display gardens that she built at her Barrington home were a scheduled bus stop on northern Illinois garden tours.

Joanne and Gaylen’s interest in history and travel took them all over the world - from Alaska, to the tribal savannahs of northern Africa, from the religious sites of Jordan to the frozen shores of Antarctica.  They were also proud supporters of their alma matter and were actively involved with the NIU (Northern Illinois University) Foundation.  They generously endow two scholarship programs for students wishing to attend the university, as well as an accountancy professorship.

Joanne is survived by her children Mark (Annette), Andrea, and Paul (Heather); her grandchildren Kennedy, Connor, Cooper, and Morgan; and by her sister Dorothy.  She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a sister (Virginia) and a brother (Kenneth).

Visitation will be 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Friday, April 9th, at Davenport Funeral Home in Barrington.  A service will be held at the Presbyterian Church of Barrington at 10:00 am on Saturday, April 10th, with interment to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Lung Association at www.lung.org

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joanne Elaine (Matthew) Larson, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, April 9, 2021

4:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory

149 West Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010

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Second Visitation

Saturday, April 10, 2021

9:00 - 10:00 am (Central time)

Presbyterian Church of Barrington

6 Brinker Rd, Barrington, IL 60010

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Funeral Service

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)

Presbyterian Church of Barrington

6 Brinker Rd, Barrington, IL 60010

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Burial

Saturday, April 10, 2021

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

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