Born in Copenhagen on 31 July 1934, Jorgen lived there with his parents for about 4 years. They moved to Nth Jutland with his father’s work, and settled in Lemvig for about 4 years. When Nazi Germany overran Denmark during the War, the Germans took over the Larsen home and delivery stable (1940-41). The family moved back to Copenhagen when the Germans demanded that Jorgen’s father work for them. His father was then sent to Germany, while Jorgen and his mother remained in Copenhagen for about 6 months. When Jorgen’s father returned from Germany, he joined the Resistance movement. This meant that the family had to always be on the move in Copenhagen.
For the last 6 months before the War ended (May 1945), Jorgen was sent to his Farmor and Farfar in Skalsker for his safety. This was when, unknowingly, Jorgen met his half-brother, Arne, but was forbidden to play with him. Although he said he always felt something for his half-brother, Jorgen was unable to contact Arne before he passed away.
After the War ended, Jorgen rejoined his parents in Copenhagen, where they lived in a flat.
In August 1949, Jorgen’s father arrived in Australia. Jorgen and his mother followed, arriving in Melbourne, 26 May 1950. They stayed overnight with some Danes then flew to Brisbane to join Jorgen’s father who was living in a boarding house in Wharf St. After 2 months (14 July 1950) they moved into the house at 44 Daventry St, Hill End, which was bought from the then Danish consul. Jorgen went to work at the Peters Icecream Factory shortly thereafter.
44 Daventry Street, West End. (Hill-End) 
Rear of 44 Daventry Street. The toilet was outside in the covered courtyard area. 
The original kitchen where Inga made her incredible layer cakes.
Jorgen and Iris
In late November 1956 Jorgen went back to Denmark. He thought he had found the Danish girl of his dreams – but obviously he hadn’t! Just before Easter in 1964 he met Iris at Cloudland. It was a bit of a shock to Iris when Jorgen asked her on their first date if she would be, “his girl”! They were engaged in August and married in December.
Iris and Jorgen were able to purchase the house next door to Inga and Sven, 40 Daventry Street, where they remained for the rest of their 40+ years marriage.
Daughters
In 1969 Anne-Lise was born, and Eloise, in 1971. What a proud father he was. Anne-Lise became a professional musician and Eloise gained a Ph.D in Microbiology.
Both daughters are happily married; Anne-Lise to Paul, and Eloise to Wayne. Jorgen became Morfar to Eloise and Wayne’s sons, when Lucas was born in 2004 and Ashley in 2006.
Early health
In 1995, Jorgen underwent open-heart surgery, and then in 1996 Lymphoma struck; twice. Jorgen accepted the harsh treatment with resolve, and beat the cancer, going into remission for almost two years. When it returned, Jorgen underwent a stem cell transplant in 1999. The invasive reboot saved his life. Jorgen walked Eloise down the aisle with a spiky short haircut, as it grew out following his treatment.
Work life
Jorgen started out his working life as apprentice to his master painter father, Sven Frede. After his father broke his ankle in a work accident, Jorgen had a succession of jobs starting out at Peters ice cream factory in West End with his Sven, and then security guard for Wormald Security, Foreman at Lucas Industries and in his final workplace at ANZ Bank head branch as chauffeur to the State Manager. Jorgen stayed at ANZ when the chauffeur position was made redundant and was relocated to the mailroom where he stayed until his retirement. Jorgen was never a career seeker and found fulfilment in life outside of work hours with his various interests and hobbies.
Interests and hobbies
While Jorgen wasn’t a musician himself, he had a fervent love for music of all kinds. His interests ranged from the great classics and jazz; Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, through to more popular music of the time. His favourite pop songs were Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes and Say Say Say by Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson. His Saturday mornings in Daventry Street heard the tapping of toes and the “de do de do de dahs” as Dad skipped and trotted in time, around the house listening to George Benson grooving from his Silver stereo. He also had a vinyl record of traditional Scandinavian music which received regular rotation. In his later years he attended free council midday concerts regularly.
Jorgen was also an avid handyman and could fix just about anything he put his mind to. A spare set of lawnmower wheels, a steel rod and some old bits of wood would find themselves turned into a go-cart for his young daughters. His workshop tinkering included the restoration of an antique school teacher’s desk and chairs, building an internal staircase, disassembling and reassembling the external staircase. He installed a skylight in the Daventry Street kitchen and laid all the brick pavers around the pool and side of the house. He also taught both his daughters to change the oil in a car. After most regular Saturday trips to the dump, Jorgen would ‘treat’ the daughters with a trip halfway down the hair-raisingly steep end of Daventry Street in the trailer behind the car. Such fun!
Life after marriage
As a tall Scandinavian with piercing blue eyes and strong Danish accent (despite the many years in Australia), Jorgen attracted much attention from women throughout his life. After his divorce from Iris, he enjoyed the company of a number of lady friends in his later years. He bought a house in Northside suburban Taigum where he enjoyed his own company and that of at least 3 ladies (that we know of).
Jorgen had always been fiercely independent but sadly, in 2019, his doctors decided he was unable to live on his own anymore. He spent the last couple of years of his life in Tricare Stafford Lakes where he continued to surprise staff with his independent ways. He enjoyed bus trips for a good ol’ stickybeak around town, and the company of a lady or two.
A full life
Jorgen was a determined stubborn man who survived more than his fair share of ill health in his life. With his early open heart surgery and two bouts of Lymphoma his family were concerned he wouldn’t reach old age. He had two decades of relatively good health following.
In his later years he had two strokes, a heart attack (and pacemaker recipient) and succumbed to vascular dementia and alzheimers disease.
His daughters remained ever faithful and both were grateful to spend two quality days with Jorgen just before he died.
Jorgen always tried his best.
Rest in peace Jorgen.