Debra Lucille (Goering) Larson, 63, passed away peacefully at Mercy Health Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville on Dec. 4, 2020. At her side were her four children, and just prior to her death, relatives and friends gathered virtually at her bedside.
Debbie was born in Chicago, Ill. on March 1, 1957 to Walter and Della Goering, the youngest of their three children. She graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in journalism. Her passions included cooking, traveling, Meet the Press, and Morning Joe. Most of all, however, Debbie had a passion for helping others around her.
In 1984, she married the love of her life, Lawrence (Larry) Larson, and the couple eventually settled in Elkhorn. She is remembered by many families in Elkhorn as “Miss Debbie,” the beloved head of several daycare centers including Sugar Creek Kids and the Children’s Care and Learning Center. In her 23-year career she cared for hundreds of children in the area. In more recent years, she enjoyed the camaraderie of co-workers and friends as a cashier at Frank’s in Elkhorn.
Debbie lived a life devoted to children – those in her community and, most important of all, those in her family.
She is survived by: four children, Eli (Jen) Larson, Meagan (Gordon) Lawson, Emily (Max) Duval and Jesse Larson (Jasmine Harmeyer); two grandchildren, Larry Lawson (5) and Riley Duval (2); stepdaughter, Jennifer Larson (Doug Dorney); two step-grandchildren, Colin (12) and Carson (4) Dorney; as well as her brother, Butch Goering.
She joins her husband, Larry, and her mother, father and sister, Patricia, in heaven.
Due to the ongoing public health crisis, we are unable to immediately hold a formal ceremony to say goodbye. However, cards, stories and well wishes will be greatly appreciated and can be sent to: P.O. Box 501, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Her family also requests that you please visit her memorialized Facebook page to share stories, pictures and memories that we can cherish forever.
As her children, we would like to thank her for being the best mom in the entire world; for loving us, listening to us, teaching us how to manage chaos with grace, teaching us right from wrong, loving any friend (furry or otherwise) that we brought home with us and for showing us what is truly most important in life.
We find comfort in knowing that after giving us all we could ever ask for, she was finally reunited with her one true love and best friend who has been waiting for her in heaven. We feel safe under the watch of both our parents, knowing they are forever with us. We will feel their presence in the warm summer breeze and in the stillness after a fresh winter snow.
Mom – we will miss you immensely and forever. We will live our lives embodying the kindness, empathy, hard work and positivity that you brightened our world with every day.
We close with a portion of a poem written by Debbie’s stepdaughter, Jenny, which exemplifies the love and patience that she showed everyone in her life:
You sang with me in the car
You never let me believe I was too loud or off key
I thought our favorite song said love was only for the duckies and the swans
And you didn’t correct me, didn’t claim love was only for the lucky and the strong
Because you wanted me to know it isn’t.
We love you mommy!
