Thomas Larkin

Born on August 26, 1930 to Aloysius and Irene (Schmidt) Larkin, Tom Larkin passed away on October 11, 2023, surrounded by family, at Mayo Hospital, La Crosse.

Tom married the love of his life, Virginia C. Marcotte, on September 6, 1952, at Blessed Sacrament, and they enjoyed 68 years together. They were blessed with 6 children, 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.  He was always very proud of his family and was happiest when anyone came to visit.

Tom attended St. James Grade School and he graduated from Aquinas High School, Class of 1949.  Tom was recently inducted into the Aquinas Athletic Wall of Fame, and he was very honored to have been recognized at a special banquet with family and friends, just 7 weeks ago.  Tom graduated with a degree from St. Thomas University in 1953. He had a successful career as a Representative of Equitable Life Insurance for 52 years.

Tom was very civic-minded, believing that you give back to your community where you earn your living. He was honored to become a Knight of the Equestrienne Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He was a Eucharistic Minister at Holy Trinity and Blessed Sacrament. Tom served on the Aquinas Board, and he was Past President of Riverfront (now Aptiv). Tom served as a County Board Supervisor for 18 years. He was also a volunteer at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, along with Virginia.

Tom valued being with his long time friends in his golf group and his coffee clutch, which they enjoyed weekly.

Tom is survived by his 6 children and their families: son Timothy; daughter, Maureen Occhino, and granddaughter, Corrine, grandson, Corbin (Seema) Occhino and their twins, Avi and Zaara, granddaughters, Molly (Camilla) and great-grandson, Emerson, Megan, and Morgan; son, Patrick (Kristin) and granddaughters, Katie and Lydia; son, Daniel (Edwige); daughter, Katie (Jim) Bagniefski, and grandsons, Sam (Kirsten), Tom (Katie) and great-grandchildren, Emma and Jack, Rob (Laura), and Dan; daughter, Brigid (Craig Hackbart). He is further survived by his sister, Mary Ellen (Tom) Prinsen, brother-in-law Henry, Alexis Marcotte, and brother-in-law, Joe (Lois) Marcotte, and several nieces and nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia on December 2, 2020; his brother, Robert and his wife, Jeanette; his brother-in-law, Paul and his wife, Kitty Marcotte; sister-in-law, Irene and her husband, Ed Newlin; sister-in-law, Mary Jane and husband, James Brindley.

Memorial contributions in Tom’s name may be directed to Aptiv (formerly Riverfront), Aquinas, and Blessed Sacrament.

Visitation will be held at Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Home, 1501 West Ave. South, on Friday, October 20 from 4-7, with a Rosary at 4:00.  The Memorial Mass will be held at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 130 Losey Blvd. South, on Saturday, October 21, at 10:00 a.m., with visitation from 9:00 a.m until the time of service. Burial will take place in Catholic Cemetery, La Crosse.

Special thanks to Butch Murphy, Carl Miller, and Bob Skemp, along with the care team at Mayo Clinic, and the staff at the Willows.