Lawrence “Larry” Olsen Horn came into this world in a blaze of glory, as fireworks were exploding outside the hospital, in Portland, Maine, on July 4, 1947. His parents, Emmanuel “Manny” Horn and Elizabeth “Betty” Horn (nee Olsen) soon moved their growing family to Woburn, Mass., where Larry spent his childhood years as a kind, adventurous, fun-loving kid. Betty loved to tell the story of the time young Larry hopped onto the back of a fire truck
on his way home from school to go help the local firemen fight a fire. She found out because Larry’s older brother Steve went home first to ask permission; when she told him “absolutely not!”, he responded, “but why not?! Larry is already there!” Larry had a strong desire to help people, and that desire along with his pursuit of fun and laughter shaped his path through life.

Larry chose to join the Army at the age of 20 and served as a medic in Vietnam from 1967-1968. He was stationed in Tan An when it was bombed, sadly lost his best friend, and almost lost his life. His injuries were severe enough that he was told that he would never walk again, but he persevered and was walking again within a year. He did not often talk about his experiences in Vietnam, but he enjoyed communicating through writing, and later wrote an article about his near-death experience which was called “A Face From Above” and published in the March/April 1998 edition of the magazine Angels On Earth. He was proud of his service to his country, and started a nonprofit organization called the Vietnam Veteran Registry with the goal of helping Vietnam veterans reunite. He believed strongly in fighting for freedom, and often said, “I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it.”

True to form, Larry continued to pursue his passions after returning from Vietnam. He attended Boston College and became an RN. He met the love of his life, Frances “Fran” Deslauriers (also an RN) at Maine Medical Center. He and Fran moved to Seattle in 1977. There, he was able to further enjoy his scuba diving hobby as well as numerous other outdoors activities including hiking, rock climbing, and camping. They were married on a ranch in Colorado in 1978 and embarked on their 43 year adventure together.

They moved back to Maine in 1981, after Larry had returned several times to scout for the perfect property. Together, they tore down an old barn and used the wood to build their house, which Larry designed. Their daughter Alycia (“Ally”) was born in 1984 and four years later their daughter Krisandra (“Krissy”) was born. Larry loved children and naturally transitioned into the role of a stay-at-home parent. He was an excellent father, just the right mix of protective and encouraging; he was just as quick to participate in a water gun fight with his girls as he was to tell them that their shorts weren’t long enough. He eagerly helped them with school projects, cheered loudly at their sports competitions, chaperoned field trips, and deftly navigated their teenagerhoods. As part of his legacy, he instilled in them a strong work ethic, independence, and love of family and community.

Being a stay-at-home dad did not prevent him from keeping himself busy with various community service endeavors. He was quick to lend a helping hand to anyone in need; after the ice storm of ’98, he went around with a chainsaw helping to clear roads and driveways and checking on neighbors. In addition to the Vietnam Veterans Registry, he also started the non-profit Sweden Emergency Response Fund and volunteered his time as an EMT, with the goal of making sure the residents of Sweden had prompt access to EMS services. He also volunteered for the Sweden Fire Department, and worked as an EMT for Bridgton EMS. When the girls were older, he went back to school at the University of Southern Maine and obtained his masters in occupational therapy at the ripe young age of 57. He re-entered the workforce as a traveling OT for several years.

Larry was what some would call an adrenaline junkie. As a teenager, he worked at both a toy store and a Chinese food res- taurant in order to fund his private pilot lessons. He finished the hours needed for his pilot’s license later in life, and enjoyed flying whenever he had the time. He was a member of the Civil Air Patrol for several years in his 60s. He also enjoyed building remote con- trolled airplanes and flying them. It brought him joy to teach oth- ers how to fly them, even though it meant that they often crashed; retrieving them and rebuilding them was just part of the fun.

In addition to flying, Larry was a man of many other interests. He enjoyed war and sci-fi books and movies. He had a good mem- ory for trivia, and would often cite random medical trivia. He wrote several unpublished books because he thoroughly enjoyed writing. Whenever he wanted to express something to a person or busi- ness, he would write an eloquent letter, which usually produced the result he was looking for. Ideas for inventions would come to him in dreams, and he subsequently drafted plans for things like hov- ercrafts and pneumatic drills. At any given moment he would be working on several projects, ranging from building a play house for the kids to building a garage bigger than the actual house. He was a problem-solver, although his family members lovingly remember his “solutions” often going awry. He and Fran regularly attended church and bible groups. He was the go-to person for organizing family parties; at get-togethers, he could typically be found at these gatherings telling tales resulting in gales of laughter. He followed the Boy Scout motto “Be Prepared”; whether you needed a pocket knife, a defibrillator, or a bug out bag, he had you covered. He liked to skeet and target shoot. Travel was high on his list of pleasures, and he and his family created wonderful memories camping in the earlier years and exploring national parks in the later years.

He surely led a full life, and passed comfortably on July 12, 2021, surrounded by the ever-lasting love of his daughters and wife. He is survived by wife Fran Deslauriers, daughters Ally Reppel and Krissy Horn, son-in-laws Jeremy Reppel and John Haskell, grandchildren Belle Haskell, Cedar Haskell, Lucian Reppel, Alice Haskell, and Callan Reppel, brother Brian Horn, and sister-in-law Martha Horn.

He is predeceased by his father Manny Horn, mother Betty Horn, and brothers Jeff Horn and Steve Horn.

He left this letter to be opened upon his death, written March 12, 1997, addressed to his family and friends:

“I have always loved to tell stories, and this one is especially important now that I am gone:

An ancient Greek legend tells of a mother that lost her only son in war. One night, the mother dreamed that she awoke before a huge rugged mountain. Young men much like her son were carrying huge sacks up the mountain. Thinking she might find her son, she eagerly searched the endless procession of men struggling upwards under their huge burdens. Finally, she found her son and showered him with tears of joy as he continued up the mountain. Seeing her son was in pain she asked, ‘son, my son, why are you carrying this burden?’ The son, his face drawn and tired, replied, ‘Mother, I carry the tears that you and others have shed for me.’

I ask that if you truly love me, you will not make my burden a heavy one.

If you wish to honor my memory, then I ask that you celebrate life, not death.

Where I go, I go without fear because of the strength of my family and friends.

Love,
Your Son, Brother, and Friend”