GREAT BEND — Joseph A. “Joe” Larkin, 78, died July 9, 2011 at Great Bend Regional Hospital.
He was born April 10, 1933 in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the son of Katherine Larkin. On Aug. 25, 1956, he married Patricia Weinberger at Council Bluffs. She died Dec. 22, 2005. He was a Great Bend resident for four years, coming from Littleton, Colo.. He was a Land Man, working for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad for 31 years. Champlin Oil Company, and other private oil companies.
Mr. Larkin served in the United States Navy. He was a member of Prince of Peace Parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church, the church choir, Kiwanis Club, Golden Belt Model Railroad Association, Chamber of Commerce, Heart of Kansas Family Health Care board of directors, Silver Cougar Club Board, Barton County Historical Society, Golden Belt Community Concert Association, and Friends of the Great Bend Zoo at Brit Spaugh Park, all of Great Bend; and NRA and AAPL-America’s Landman. He served on several governor’s committees for the states of Colorado and Iowa.
Survivors include a son, Mark Larkin, Castle Rock, Colo.; two daughters, Deborah Rush, Centennial, Colo., and Lori Ann Mertens and husband Dwight, Punta Gorda, Fla.; a daughter-in-law, Karen Holbrook, Littleton, Colo.; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a companion, Iva Behrens, of the home; a beloved dog, Taco; and a beloved cat, Pixie. He was preceded in death by a son, Michael Larkin; and a cousin, John “Jack” Hall.
A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 14 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Great Bend with Father Reginald A. Urban officiating. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Heart of Kansas Family Health Care, in care of the Bryant Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home *
425 Patton Road   
Great Bend, KS, 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, July 12, 2011