Obituary: Warren Larkin

May 18, 1940 ~ August 22, 2021

Warren F. Larkin, 81, of Sturgeon Bay died peacefully surrounded by his family at Bellin Memorial Hospital on August 22, 2021.  He was born May 18, 1940 in Kewaunee to Danford and Agnes (Coppersmith) Larkin.  He was raised by a very special man, his stepfather Bernard Putnam.  On June 27, 1959 he married his childhood sweetheart Sharon Destree at St. Joseph Church in Sturgeon Bay.

Warren attended Gardner Consolidated Grade School and graduated from Brussels High School.  During his career as a Union Representative, he attended several universities, including Harvard School of Business and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning certificates in Business Management and Union practices.  He began his career at the Milwaukee Shoe Factory where he was recruited by the Boot and Shoe Workers Union.  They later merged with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union.  Warren spent 28 years working for the Union and retired at the age of 55. 

He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his wife Sharon. They went on yearly trips to Canada for over 40 years.  They also spent a weekend every year at the Viking Bow and Gun Club playing archery golf.  They made several trips to Wyoming and Colorado after his retirement.  Warren was a long time and active member of the Gardner Rifle Club.  He spent many years shooting trap.

His wife of 62 years survives along with four children, Cindy (Ken) Frea, Wendy (Mike) Hansen, Sandy (Jay) Sekadlo, and Darren Larkin (partner Christina Smith); 13 grandchildren; Travis (Anne) Frea, Kristin Davis (Matt), Scott ( Renee) Griep, Amber (Justin) May, Ashley Sekadlo, Alyson (Eric) Nohelty, Alyssa Sekadlo (Ryan), Hunter Larkin (Alayna) Vanessa Larkin (Roy), Olivia Larkin, Kristin (Chris) Franklin, Adam( Ashley) Hansen;  14 great-grandchildren;  four brothers,  Frank Larkin, Danny (Kathy) Larkin, Stan (Mary) Larkin and Danny Putnam; a sister, Caroline (Calton) Ferron;  in-laws: Harvey (Shirley) Destree, Janice (Bud) Mueller and Joyce Destree.  He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, Mary and George Destree; grandchildren, Autumn Griep and Ryan Davis; sisters, Odile Careful, Sharon Ettien, Darlene Putnam and Mary Larkin, other in-laws, Doris and Harold Kaye, Arlene and Roger Braun, Bernadine and Richard Kaye, Lois and Wallace Kipp, Arnold Destree, and Dora Destree.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, August 26, 2021 at St. Francis and St. Mary Parish in Brussels.  Entombment will be at the Shrine of Good Shepherd Mausoleum.  Friends may call at the Forbes Funeral Home on Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and at the church on Thursday from 12:00 noon until the time of service.  Memorials may be directed to Door CANcer Inc. (PO Box 423 Sturgeon Bay WI 54235).

Special thanks to the staffs of Bellin ICU and the Door County Oncology Dept. for all the wonderful care and support.