G. Harris

MADISON-The family of G. Larkin Harris mourns his sudden and unexpected death. After 59 years as a daring child, extreme athlete, sports car enthusiast, mountain biker and motorcyclist, he died of a heart attack that struck while he stood in line at a Pizza Hut in Topeka, Kan. He had survived car crashes, motorcycle crashes, two marriages and many dangers on skis, sailboats, surfboards and in scuba gear deep in the ocean. But this time, far from his home in Madison, his spirit left the flesh on the evening of Friday, Oct. 24, 2008. However, his flesh will live on because he donated most of his tissues and organs to other people for transplants. He will be remembered forever as the only son of George and Emily Larkin Harris; only brother to his sisters, Mrs. Marilyn (Hans) Noeldner and Dr. Cynthia Harris; uncle to Mrs. Kerri (Russell) Phillips; first husband of Jeanne Negley; the second husband of Ann Harris; and stepfather to Anns children, Tonya and Rahsaan. His niece, Kerri inherited some of his traits and has bequeathed to his great-nieces, Rosilyn, Alanna and Kaylee his enthusiasm for athletic adventure. Most recently, he taught them how to ski and impressed them with his heroism and skill as he rescued an injured skier on the mountain. At his birth in Madison, on Sept. 14, 1949, he was officially named George IV after his father, grandfather and great-grandfather, but he was always called "Larky," and legally changed his name to G. Larkin when he grew up. His curious mind led to vast knowledge of the world, great conversations over beer, and boisterous laughing and fun on all social occasions. Running marathons, riding his Harley Davidson (Fat Boy) to the biker fest out West, serving on the ski patrol, working on his antique Corvette, and helping out his Mom on her farm in Oregon, Wis., filled his final years with great joy. He graduated from Madison East High School in 1967. Just as the Vietnam war was heating up, he took a semester off from UW-Madison, to pursue his love of skiing out West in the Rocky Mountains. His birth date came up No. 1 in the draft lottery, so his next adventures were conducted in uniform. After completing military service, he returned to UW, lived with Jeanne and her two Irish Setters in a little house near campus, and graduated with a bachelors degree in bacteriology. They had many adventures living next to the ocean in California and on their horse ranch in Northern Illinois. They stayed such good friends after ending their marriage that she and her second husband chose Larkin to be their daughters godfather. Years later, while working as a lab director for quality control in the food industry, he met Ann, who he promoted from a position as his technician to that of second wife. He helped raise her two children, Rahsaan and Tonya, and they took the name Harris. When Larkin became the proud step-grandfather of Rahsaans children, Alexia, Leah and Isaiah, the name Harris was continued into future generations. Friends and family are invited to gather at the GUNDERSON OREGON FUNERAL HOME, 431 Soden Drive, Oregon, from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, to remember Larkin and to celebrate his life.