Swaziland, PNG retired missionary Joann Larson passes away

by | Jul 11, 2013

WayneJoannLarson

Nampa, Idaho  Thursday, July 11, 2013

Retired Nazarene missionary Joann Barbara Larson passed away on July 7 at the age of 80.
She accepted the Lord as her Savior as a young girl and lived a devoted life of service to Him. God opened the door for her to attend Northwest Nazarene College (now University), and it was there that she met her husband of 58 years, Wayne Larson. The couple married in 1954 and were blessed with three children.In 1965, while serving as the church secretary at Medford, Oregon, First Church of the Nazarene, she and her husband traveled to Swaziland, Africa. During the trip, they felt the call of God on their lives to become full-time missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene.
Wayne and Joann served in Swaziland from 1969 to 1977. Joann served as the hospital and field treasurer while Wayne was a hospital administrator. In 1977, the Larsons operated a home for missionary children who attended school in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.In 1979, Wayne and Joann were once again tasked with a Nazarene hospital assignment and served at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital, near Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea. Wayne worked as hospital administrator and Joann served as the hospital accountant until their retirement in 1990.After a short period in Medford, the Larsons moved to Nampa, Idaho, where Joann began ministering in the Student Post Office at Northwest Nazarene University. Joann loved to have the college students over for pancakes and other meals in order to give them a little taste of home.After retiring from the post office, Joann began her ministry at the Nazarene Care House, a compassionate ministry of Nampa First Church of the Nazarene, where she served until her home going.

Joann served on the mission boards of several churches and loved helping other missionaries with deputation schedules and other tasks. Together, Joann and Wayne served as caretakers for Nampa First Church’s Missionary Home.

Throughout her life, Joann’s gentle, loving, generous spirit set a beautiful example for many generations to come.

A memorial service was held on July 10 at the Nampa First Church. Flags from both Swaziland and Papua New Guinea were prominent at the service.

While in Papua New Guinea, Wayne and Joann trained and mentored Layapi Piyu, who is currently Mount Hagen Nazarene Hospital’s business administrator and accountant. The couple established a scholarship fund for Wayne Larson Piyu (Layapi’s 9-year-old son) to attend Northwest Nazarene University.
JoannLarsonMemorialDonations to the fund can be sent to:
Little Wayne Scholarship
3310 South Stanford Street
Nampa, ID 83686
Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region

Tag:

Todd & Connie Lou Aebischer

Todd and Connie Lou Aebischer served as Regional Communications Coordinator - Regional NMI Coordinator respectively for over 4 years. They are now serving in Papua New Guinea under Mission Aviation Fellowship as Country Director / Program Director.

Related Posts

Rebuilding Lives: A Community Response to Trauma in Myanmar

Rebuilding Lives: A Community Response to Trauma in Myanmar

Sein Pan Evacuation Center, Mandalay, Myanmar: From 15 to 17 April 2025, a trauma-informed care initiative provided essential psychosocial support to 139 to 150 children under 15 and their families at the Sein Pan neighborhood evacuation center in Mandalay. This...

read more
Philippine Nazarene College Holds Commencement Exercises

Philippine Nazarene College Holds Commencement Exercises

La Trinidad, Benguet Philippines: On 11 April 2025, Philippine Nazarene College (PNC) held its Commencement Exercises with the theme “Dare to Lead”, inspired by 2 Timothy 2:15: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be...

read more
The Journey of Grace in Refugee Camp through Jesus Film Team

The Journey of Grace in Refugee Camp through Jesus Film Team

After the military coup in 2021, Myanmar has faced severe civil war in all regions. This crisis continually drives citizens to neighboring countries. It is estimated that 15 million Myanmar people are in exile. Nearly 10 million migrants have migrated to Thailand, and...

read more
APNTS welcomes its new Academic Dean

APNTS welcomes its new Academic Dean

On 10 April 2025, Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary announced its new Academic Dean, Dr. Marie Joy Pring-Faraz. She will begin in her new role on 3 May 2025. She will succeed Dr. David Ackerman, who has served with distinction and excellence. Dr. Ackerman...

read more
Myanmar recovery efforts underway after deadly earthquake

Myanmar recovery efforts underway after deadly earthquake

A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday, 28 March. The disaster has claimed more than 3,100 lives in Myanmar, with thousands more injured. The tremors were felt as far as Thailand, where at least 18 people lost their lives. Many...

read more