Arnold W. "Bud" Larson

Arnold William "Bud" Larson, Jr. age 69, of Eau Claire, passed away on Monday, June 26, 2017 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. He was born on July 23, 1947 in Eau Claire, the son of the late Arnold W. and Wanda P. (Harshlip) Larson, Sr. Bud was married to Judith Thorson In January of 1965 and to this union, a daughter and son were born. They later divorced. On May 1, 1976, Bud married Judy Olson in Eau Claire. While residing in Illinois, Bud was employed as a tool and die maker for Caterpillar, Inc. for approximately 6 years. He moved back to Eau Claire where he drove truck and worked for the train yard in Altoona. He then began working for Nichols Homeshield in Rice Lake, WI. He became an insurance agent and sold insurance in Rice Lake and then back in Eau Claire. Bud was an accomplished and well known gunsmith throughout the Eau Claire area. He took great pride in his trade and was known as one of the best due to his knowledge of firearms and the patience to work on them. He was an avid and active member of the Friends of the NRA and was recruited to be an instructor for the NRA Poole Camp, which is a camp to train Military personnel how to handle and use the high powered guns before they started boot camp. Bud loved to travel and spend his time in Montana and attended the Quigley Buffalo Shoot in Forsyth, MT for 23 years. He was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and was a Zor Shriner. Bud will be remembered for his love of the outdoors including fishing hunting camping and boating. He truly had a charismatic personality with a sense of humor to match. Bud will be sadly missed by his children, Tracy (Jeff) Mottice of Mentor, OH and Todd Larson, Jr of Malta, IL; grandchildren, Jonathan Larson, Koryn Larson, Todd Larson, Jr., Malachi Larson, Taylorann Mottice, Kendall Mottice and Karissa Mottice; his long time love, Judy Larson of Eau Claire; sister, Judy Kipp, nephew Josh Kipp and great nephew Jake Kipp. A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, July 8, 2017 from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Talbot Family Funeral Home, Mondovi Chapel. A celebration of Bud's life will then be held at Hipp's Pub n' Grub located at S7650 WI-37, Eau Claire, WI just north of Mondovi starting at 3:00 PM