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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Jean Carolyn Larson, 64, of Colorado Springs, formerly of Sterling, passed away Friday, Oct. 17, 2014, in Colorado Springs. She was a teacher with Sterling Public Schools for 33 years.
Jean was born Feb. 3, 1950, in Chicago, the daughter of Charles and Ruth Bonifield. She lived in Chicago as a child before moving to Pinckneyville in the eighth grade. She moved to Barry for her senior year of high school, graduating as valedictorian.
Jean attended college at Western Illinois University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1971. She earned a Master of Science degree in education in 1986 from Northern Illinois University, and a general administrative license in 1998.
She began her teaching career in 1972, with Sterling Public Schools as an elementary teacher at Washington Elementary School. She was a second-grade teacher for many years. She also was a Chapter One coordinator, a Title One/bilingual coordinator, a student services coordinator, and a reading specialist within the school district until her retirement in 2005.
Jean married Stephen W. Larson on Jan. 1, 1989, in Cypress Gardens, Florida. Together, they enjoyed designing and building their family’s home and spending time at their property on the Mississippi River. He preceded her in death on May 16, 2000.
Jean was committed to her faith and was a member of Abiding Word Church in Sterling. She delighted in children’s literature and passed her love of reading to her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed being outdoors on a warm day tending her flower gardens. She always maintained a positive disposition despite the many challenges of Parkinson’s disease.
She is survived by one daughter, Suzanne Shuda of Colorado Springs, Colorado; one son, Stephen A. Shuda Jr. of Wheeling, West Virginia; one brother, Dennis Bonifield, of Barry; two stepsons, Brett and Jeremy Larson of Colorado; and nine grandchildren. She also is survived by the many close friends she made during her years as an educator.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and one grandson.
Private burial was Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, at Oak Knoll Memorial Park in Sterling, with the Rev. Kenneth Zuithoff officiating.
An online memorial at jean-larson.forevermissed.com has been established for those wishing to share memories of Jean.