Larsen, Robert M. passed away surrounded by his family on April 8 - the day of the solar eclipse - six weeks before his 91st birthday. Born in Minneapolis in 1933, Bob grew up as the son of a single mother in St. Louis Park and was in the first graduating class of Edina High School. He attended the University of Minnesota and lived at the Delta Tau Delta fraternity house for six (!) years, where he made lifelong friends and memories that he cherished for the rest of his life. He started his career selling bathroom deodorizers and pots and pans and worked his way up to being a successful real estate developer, with projects that included strip malls across the country, The Jockey Club in Miami, Florida, and Victory Ranch in Park City, Utah. He was proud of his Scottish heritage on his mother's side and loved driving around and looking at the land - where most people saw tumbleweeds, he saw promise. Known to his friends as "Cowboy Bob," he was an optimistic and irrepressible spirit who embodied the Go Big or Go Home philosophy. He loved thunderstorms, the State Fair, small dogs, backgammon, musicals, painting, daisies, the Northwoods, Grey Goose, reading (especially Tolstoy), fishing, pressed shirts, silk pocket squares, women, horseback riding, Fox News, power lunches, golf, the Minikhada Club, disco, Turner Classic Movies, laughing with friends, white birthday cake from the Lincoln Dell, huge meals and food of all kinds. Most of all, Bob loved his family, which includes his daughters, two former wives, seven grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He will be remembered and missed by his family for his generosity, warmth, big blue eyes, sweet spirit, loving heart and his ability to laugh at himself, even during the worst of times. Bob was preceded in death by daughters Mary and Mary Michael; brother George Larsen, sister Mary Elizabeth Huch and her husband Jim; parents Jeannie Robbins Larsen and Milton Larsen. Survived by daughters Elizabeth (Walter Schleisman); Anne Hooley (Mark); Robbin; Lily (Michael Aresty); grandchildren Charlie, Michael, Patrick, Catherine Hooley; Peter, Henrik, Luisa Schleisman; former wives Sheila Morgan and Gayle Larsen. A special thanks to The Kenwood and The Willows of Ramsey Hill and to Mary Halverson, his assistant of 51 years. She knows all the stories. Please celebrate Bob by complimenting a stranger, adding more food to your order, reading a good book, eating candy, taking a long drive, or appreciating a gorgeous vista. A Mass will be held on April 17, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of Mary in Minneapolis, with visitation at 10:00 a.m. Lunch following a private family burial. Service will be livestreamed at mary.online.church/ In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Twin Cities (svdpmpls.org/…) or the Trust for Public Land (secure.tpl.org/site/…).

Published on April 15, 2024