John Carl Westerbur Jr.

JOHN CARL WESTERBUR JR. was born on December 12, 1947 to John C. and Ethel Iona (Reimers) Westerbur in Pipestone, Minnesota. He attended school in Pipestone, graduating from Pipestone High School in 1965. He lived in Ihlen, Minnesota his whole life, except for his tour while he was in the United States Army. On February 8, 1967, he enlisted into the army and served in Vietnam. He received two Army Commendation Medals and the Bronze Star. On February 9, 1969, he was honorably discharged. On July 10, 1976 he was united in marriage to Laurie June Rydell at the Evangelical Free Church in Marshall, Minnesota. After their marriage, John worked at the Pipestone Implement as a Partsman, at Bayliner Marine, and also at Amdahl Motors as a Partsman. After his retirement in 2012 he and Laurie continued to reside in their home in Ihlen. On April 13, 2017 John was diagnosed with a glioblastoma and underwent treatment. On February 11, 2018 he entered into the Pipestone Hospice House. John died, surrounded by his loving family, on Sunday, April 8, 2018 at the age of 70 years, three months, and 27 days.

John was a member of Christ the King Free Lutheran Church in Pipestone where he had been a Trustee. He also served as a City Councilman for the city of Ihlen. Through the years he enjoyed fishing, camping, and travelling with his family. He enjoyed his daily walks down to the State Park in Ihlen, which he loved dearly. John and Laurie had a great love of travelling, including a trip to Israel and to Washington DC. Special memories were made on his final trip, during his treatments, to Alaska with Laurie.

John is lovingly remembered by his wife, Laurie, of Ihlen; three children, Brenda (Jon) Gill of Richfield, Minnesota, Michelle (Tristan) Delaney of Brookings, South Dakota, and Brian (Allison) Westerbur of Plymouth, Minnesota; six grandchildren, Abigail, Lucie, Jonathan, and Alexander Gill, and Cael and Adia Delaney; three brothers, Don (Barb) Westerbur, and Gene (Barb) Westerbur both of Jasper, Minnesota, and Dan Westerbur of Garretson, South Dakota. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ethel Westerbur.