John Dubbelde

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JOHN MATHEW DUBBELDE was born to Theodore “Ted” and Jeanne (McFarland) Dubbelde on October 31, 1948. He was raised on the Dubbelde family farm north of Pipestone, Minnesota with his parents and eight siblings.  John first met Kay Hendrickson when they were teenagers. After graduating from Pipestone High School, he attended the University of Minnesota, Morris and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He enlisted into the United States Army and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged. He moved back to Pipestone and he became a member of the National Guard. He and Kay were married on July 14, 1973.  They welcomed four wonderful children to their family, and John remained in Pipestone until his death on October 18, 2021.

After farming for ten years, John worked for several companies in Pipestone including US Marine-Bayliner, MN West Tech, and Bioverse.  He also worked at Spartan Emergency Response Company, in Brandon, South Dakota, as a materials manager and retired from that position in December 2017.  As someone who was always on the go, John worked in the office of Double D Gravel Company during his retirement through summer 2021. He traveled with Kay in their truck to spend time with family and friends, and thought up countless projects to improve their house and yard.

John was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone where he was baptized on November 28, 1948 and confirmed on April 21, 1959.  John’s faith was very important to him throughout his life. Even when he was out of town visiting his kids and grandkids, he would find a local Catholic church to attend. He “let God’s light shine” through his kindness toward others, his unwavering positivity and thoughtfulness, and his dedication to doing what was right.  After his cancer diagnosis in winter 2020, he reassured and comforted his family and friends by saying “He’s (God) got me covered” which became the rallying quote for his family.

John was an incredibly kind and loving person who always wanted to be sure everyone around him felt included.  He valued the importance of everyone in the family working together- all of us worked together in the fields, with the animals, and in the house.  John liked cooking and baking as a youngster and worked at a bakery the summers between school years. This led to teaching his family and grandchildren how to make pans of buns, and donuts from scratch. He enjoyed making and sharing the most wonderful candies, including melt in your mouth fudge, divinity, and peanut brittle at Christmas time.  

He subscribed to the “work hard, play hard” philosophy.  As soon as chores were done, it was play time; either at the Dubbelde family cabin where he would spend countless hours water skiing, visiting with his siblings, or watching a favorite show or musical.

He would find ways to keep his grandkids, nieces, and nephews entertained by giving rides on his John Deere lawn mower, playing tag at the playground, jumping on the trampoline and taught each of them to say “peace dude” while holding up two fingers.  

John was always brainstorming and thinking.  His brain was always thinking of a new project or how to make something better at home, at his kids’ houses, or for any family member who needed his help.  He liked working with wood and built their deck (twice), built a large raised bed garden for Kay, and also built four large flower boxes.  With the help of some community members, John completely remodeled their basement and most rooms inside their home.

John enjoyed music and singing.  On the family farm, he would be cultivating the corn in shorts and an army jacket singing at the top of his lungs.  While in the Army, he taught himself to play acoustic guitar. He and Kay joined the Al Opland singers and performed for many years with the group.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Kay Dubbelde of Pipestone; four children, Matt (Barb) Dubbelde of Sioux Center, Iowa, Jodi (Steve) Weaver of  Lisle, Illinois, Tory (Tom) Bohlke of Lismore, Minnesota, and Nic (Crystal) Dubbelde of Mankato, Minnesota; nine grandchildren, Lucas, Tanner, Morgan, Jerad, Aiden, Lauren, Peyton, Raegan, and Gabby; six siblings, Mike Dubbelde of Pipestone, Becky (Vance) Walgrave of Luverne, Minnesota, Ann McFarland (Linda Earls)  of Point Blank, Texas, Doug (Annette) Dubbelde of Pipestone, Scott (Diane) Dubbelde of Brandon, South Dakota, and Patty (Todd) Evans of Luverne; and many beloved nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Jeanne Dubbelde; sister, Susan Dubbelde; brother, Joel Dubbelde; sister-in-law, Donette Dubbelde; infant niece, Karley McFarland; mother- and father-in-law Hazel and Jim Hendrickson, and brother-in-law Teri Hendrickson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. Memorials will be directed by the family to either the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in Sioux Falls or St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone.