Ronald O. Larkin

Ronald O. Larkin, 60, of Axtell, Kansas, died Saturday, December 21, 2002, at his home in Axtell. He bravely fought cancer for three years.
     He was born June 15, 1942, at Axtell Kansas, the son of Francis and Elizabeth Lierz Larkin. He grew up on the family farm east of Baileyville, KS and graduated from B & B High School in 1960.
     On February 23, 1963, he married Janice Heiman at Sacred Heart Church at Baileyville. She survives of the home in Axtell.
     He attended Highland Community College, Benedictine College at Atchison, and Clayton University at St. Louis, Missouri. He received a degree in business administration. Ron worked for the Mobil Oil Corporation for 32 years in transportation and distribution. He spent 18 years living and working in the Kansas City area before being transferred with the company to their chemical and fertilizer division in Princeton, Illinois for nine years. Ron's next move was to Mobil Mining and Minerals in Lakeland, Florida for 10 years. He was also the owner of BeeLine Signs in Lakeland, Florida. Ron retired in 1997, and he and his wife moved back to the Axtell area in 1998.
     He was a member of St. Michael's Church where he was a lector and a CCD teacher, the Knights of Columbus, and served on the Axtell city council. He was a member of the Lion's Club in Illinois, served on the United Way Board in Florida, served on school boards, parish councils, and found time to devote to youth in all the communities he lived. Ron loved all sports from the K.C. WYCO Little League to Florida Junior Olympics Volleyball. He chaired many athletic organizations as well as coached in various sports over 35 different teams through the years. As a history buff, he loved to read, and he collected replicas of World War II fighter planes.
     Survivors besides his wife Janice, are a son; Randall Larkin of Lawrence, Kansas; three daughters, Lisa Coultas of Valrico, Florida, Jana Gudenkauf of Axtell, Kansas, and Joy Lohmeyer of Lone Tree, Colorado; his mother, Elizabeth Larkin of Seneca, Kansas; a brother, Bruce Larkin of Baileyville; a sister, Mary Heiman of Olathe, Kansas; and eight grandchildren.
    He was preceded in death by his father on December 15, 1995; his brother, Russell Larkin on February 29, 2000; and two infant brothers, James Michael Larkin on December 12, 1959 and Bruce Albert Larkin on September 24, 1945.
    The mass of Christian burial will be 10 A.M. Tuesday at St. Michael's Church at Axtell. The burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery at Baileyville, Kansas. The rosary will be prayed at 2 and 7 P.M. Monday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
     Memorials may be given for St. Michael's School at Axtell and sent in care of the family.