John Perry Oelkers, 69, of Red Wing, died Sunday, January 14, 2018, with his family by his side, at the Mayo Clinic Health Systems, Red Wing. He had recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He was born September 28, 1948, in Red Wing, to Vernon and Irene (Anderson) Oelkers and graduated from Red Wing Central High School. He married Cheryl DuBois in 1968 and together they had two children. They later divorced. John worked at 3M, ADM, and then at Xcel Energy where he worked for 42 years before retiring in 2014. In 1995 was united in marriage to Susan Yule.
John had served in the Red Wing National Guard, and was a past member of the Wildlife Federation, the Minnesota Conservation Federation, the Red Wing Elks Lodge BPOE 845, the Xcel Social Club, and was a Girl Scout Leader--having been the 1st male Girl Scout Leader in Minnesota. He started the Reinvest in Minnesota Program with Jeff Cole. John enjoyed duck hunting and fishing and had taken many fishing and hunting trips throughout the U.S and Canada. John was an avid Harley rider and was a member of ABATE of Minnesota. He also enjoyed spending time at his cabin on Balsam Lake with his family and friends and he loved watching his grandkids grow up.
John is survived by his wife, Sue of Red Wing; two children, Lisa and Brian Oelkers, both of Lake City; 2 stepchildren, Angie (Mike) Wood of Red Wing and Mandy (Brian) Sander; five grandchildren, Brittney Wooding, Alyssa (Kyle) Neswold, Matthew Wooding, and Marcus and Sophia Oelkers; one step-grandson, Jase Sander; a great-granddaughter arriving in May; siblings, Dick (Jean) of Red Wing and Kathy (Norman) Charlson of Blaine and many nieces and nephews.
John is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Beverly Decker-Erickson.
A visitation for John will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel from 2-4 p.m. There will be military honors by the Leo C. Peterson American Legion in the funeral home parking lot followed by a time of sharing at 4 p.m. In John's honor, come wearing your camouflage, Harley-Davidson or casual attire. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com
Visitation
JAN
20.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM (CST)
Mahn Family Funeral Home - Bodelson-Mahn Chapel
602 Plum St,
Red Wing, MN 55066
Time of Sharing
JAN
20.
4:00 PM (CST)
Mahn Family Funeral Home - Bodelson-Mahn Chapel
602 Plum St,
Red Wing, MN 55066