Waukesha Native’s Memorial Planned 14 Months After Death

WAUKESHA, WI — Waukesha native Chuck Larsen's life deserved to be eulogized and honored, according to his loved ones, even if it meant waiting 14 months through a pandemic to hold a memorial.

The 68-year-old died of the coronavirus on April 3, 2020, after a weeklong illness. Larsen died alone because of the pandemic, Larsen's ex-wife, Debra Horkan, told Patch. He spent his last two years in a memory-care facility in DeForest struggling with Type 1 diabetes and frontotemporal dementia.

"Chuck had preplanned with Krause [Funeral Home] many years before, so we knew a memorial was something he wanted. As a family, we were very thankful for this because we didn’t have that added stress," Horkan said.

Krause Funeral Home in Brookfield held onto Larsen's ashes until his memorial in May.

Larsen's family knew they would carry out his final wishes and celebrate his life, but at a time when it was safe for everyone to gather.

Horkan said the pandemic was tricky and forced his family to postpone tentative memorial dates several times.

Not only was planning a celebration of life difficult but the grieving process was also put on pause.

"All this while trying to keep ourselves safe from COVID-19 made for a stressful situation, providing us with no closure or ability to put things to rest," she said.

About Chuck

Larsen’s family described him as a quiet man who enjoyed life's simple pleasures. He attended Blackhawk Technical College, where he was interested in electronics.

Larsen worked as an audio sales consultant for many years, 18 of them at American TV in both Madison and Waukesha.

He was an avid music collector. He played guitar and loved to dance. Larsen was also a model car-building enthusiast. His interest led to winning many local, national and international model car builder awards.

Larsen was a longtime member of the Auto Modelers Group of Wisconsin. He was a fixture at numerous car events locally and statewide.

Larsen was extremely proud to have owned a 1929 Ford Model A with a flathead engine.

Even though they divorced, he remained close friends with his ex-wife, Horkan. Larsen leaves behind two sons, Chad and Garrett Horkan, and several grandchildren.

A Silver Lining

The 14-month waiting period provided Larsen's family with more time to put together an organized and in-depth celebration. Normally a person would have three or four days instead of a year.

"I wasn’t hurried, and there was a sense of relief to that," Horkan said.

She added it was difficult for family and friends to wait as it is instinctive to reach out in sympathy. Family and friends couldn't grieve in the physical presence of others who were feeling the same way.

"When the celebration of life actually took place, there was a much-needed feeling of togetherness. It was important that Chuck’s older sisters would be able to attend and were now vaccinated," she said.

Over the past 14 months, Larsen's family felt closure was delayed.

"You want to let go but you can’t. One must frantically adapt as grieving is stretched into weeks, then months," Horkan said.

Holding the memorial finally brought the closure everyone needed.

Horkan said the isolation of the pandemic made people take a step back and appreciate the in-person social interaction needed in life. She added it gave a renewed sense that everyone is in this together.

It was Larsen's mantra that helped his family get through the past year of uncertainty and loss.

"In Chuck’s words 'It is what it is — deal with it.' That is indeed what we did, as a family and as a country," Horkan said.