William B. Larson

Bill was born on February 6, 1937, in Ironwood, the son of the late Hilding and Esther Lillian (Beckwith) Larson. He grew up in Ironwood until age eight, when he moved with his family to Houghton.

Bill was a graduate of the Houghton High School, Class of 1955. He furthered his education at Michigan Tech University, attaining his degree in business administration in 1960.

Bill married Annette (Anne) Koski, on July 7, 1956, in Laurium. Bill and Anne moved to Ishpeming in 1962 and have resided here since.

Bill was the owner and president of O.K. Auto Supply which had operated 16 stores throughout the Upper Peninsula and one in Northern Wisconsin for many years. Bill also served as a board member of Superior Extrusion, Inc. since its inception until June of 2015 and operated O.K. Enterprises.

Bill will be remembered as an avid reader and active investor who studied the Austrian School of Economics. He truly loved his family and could always be counted upon for good advice.

Bill cherished his time spent at camp on the Dead River Basin along with his winters spent in Naples, Florida, since 2001, where he enjoyed golfing and his numerous friends he had met during that period. Bill was a member of the Ishpeming Elks and the Wawonowin Country Club.

Survivors include his wife of the past 60 years, Annette (Anne) Larson of Ishpeming; three children, Debra Larson of San Luis Obispo, California, Brian (Ellen) Larson of Ishpeming and Melanie Lynn Larson of West Lafayette, Indiana; grandchildren, Matthew Larson, Christina Larson, Holland Vlieg, Shay Wilberger and Mandy Russell; a great-grandchild, Karsten Vlieg and another expected soon; sister, Marilyn (Charles) Mitchell of Scottsdale, Arizona; brother, John Larson of Ishpeming; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

All are invited to a celebration of Bill’s life to be held on Saturday, October 1, 2016, at the River Rock Lanes and Banquet Center in Ishpeming, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The Bill Larson Scholarship Fund, set up to help an Ishpeming, Westwood or Negaunee High School Graduate, pursue a degree in Business Administration in care of Anne Larson, 415 South Camp Rd., Ishpeming, 49849.

Bill’s obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com, where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.