Janis M. Larson

Janis M. Larson, 77, of Marquette, Kansas, passed away Monday, March 9, at her home in Marquette, Kansas.

Janis was born on January 7, 1949, in McPherson, Kansas, the daughter of Philip and Edna (Marteney) Larson. She graduated from Marquette High School in 1967 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Remedial Reading from Kansas State University.

For 42 years, Janis taught school, in Junction City, Little River, the State Penitentiary in Hutchinson, Salina, and ended her career in her hometown of Marquette. Janis was a lifelong learner; it always seemed like she was taking a class or teaching a class. She even went back after her master’s degree to get a second certification in Special Education and Behavioral Disorders. It would be difficult to put an exact number of students she taught and lives she impacted.

Janis wore many hats, daughter, sister, friend, but one job she excelled at was an Aunt to Brian, Emily, Danielle, Erika, Tim and Cassandra, and their children. When Emily was very young, she started calling Janis, JaJa, a nickname that stuck and her nieces and nephews affectionately called her.

Creativity is something that Janis had in spades. She could sew and quilt, making beautiful quilts for her entire family, and she could also paint, but if you saw JaJa when she was painting, you might wonder how much of the paint got on the subject and how much got on Janis. She would be covered in paint. This also carried over to her cooking. The food would taste amazing, but JaJa would be wearing most of what she cooked and her kitchen too.

One thing that JaJa always liked to do, but she became passionate about later in life, was attending garage sales. Janis was highly organized so she was only buying things that she had a need or purpose for, or something someone else was looking for. However, she did end up with a fair amount of stuff in her collection that her family is not sure what to do with now. So, please reach out to us after the appropriate amount of time. Tomorrow will be fine.

JaJa was an incredible cook. She was always making something, but possibly one of the best things she made was her Swedish Rye Bread, but breaded shrimp was not her forte, just ask her nephew, Tim, as he was the unfortunate recipient of her breaded peel and eat shrimp. Let's just say it was a little crunchy. As a teacher, JaJa had her summers free and often cooked dinner for Ron, Tim and anyone working at the farm. They affectionately called her The Mushy, after the character from the old western Rawhide.

Janis was always busy. She often said she thought that she was even more busy after she retired. She gave her time freely to anyone who asked for help and to her beloved community of Marquette. JaJa was a board member for the Senior Center where she helped cook the Monday Community Meal with her sister Kay, organized a sewing group, and worked on puzzles. Janis also organized Recreation Department activities like bus tours, Pitch nights, and Bingo nights. In addition to that, she always volunteered a day each week to work at the Kansas Motorcycle Museum, and also served on the Elim Lutheran Church Council, as well as the Starlite Literary Club.

She is survived by her brother, John (Becky) Larson, Overland Park, KS and sister, Kay Larson of Marquette, KS; nieces and nephews, Brian (Julie) Larson, Emily (Steven) Forssberg, Danielle (Travis) Beckham, Erika (Lenry) Van Zyl, Tim (Nikki) Larson, and Cassandra Nulik; and great-nephews and nieces, Maia, Rylee, Miles, Cooper, Maise, and Lars.

She was preceded in death by her parents. Janis was always close with her little brother Ronnie, we are convinced she knew that due to Ron’s cardiac issues he was not long for this world, and decided to get to heaven a couple days before him to get the party started.

A memorial service for Janis and her brother, Ron Larson, will be held Monday, March 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Marquette School Gymnasium. Please dress as you are comfortable….K-State, Chiefs, or Marquette Wolverine apparel is encouraged.

Memorials are suggested to The Art Room in Marquette or the Marquette Senior Center in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 North Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.