John Weis was born on March 16, 1947, in Tracy, Minnesota to Phillip and Catherine Zens Weis. He grew up on the family farm near Dovray, MN and attended Walnut Grove High School. On March 1, 1966, he enlisted in the United States Marines. John received a Purple Heart for his service in Vietnam. Following his honorable discharge on February 29, 1968, he returned to Dovray. On April 12, 1969, he and Jane Bassett were married at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie, MN. Following their marriage, they made their home on farms in the Dovray area and raised their four children. John worked for the Cottonwood County Highway Department for 35 years before retiring in 2009. John and Jane enjoyed spending their winter in Arizona. While there he enjoyed gardening, feeding the animals, and tinkering around the yard. In his spare time John enjoyed the challenge of moving buildings and improving the shorelines of Lake Shetek with rocks and landscaping.
John passed away on Sunday, October 31, 2021, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 74. He was a member of St. Anthony Church in Westbrook, MN. He also was a member of the Westbrook VFW Post. John grew a large vegetable garden and canned many of the vegetables, giving much of it away to his family, friends, and neighbors. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards, and having coffee with neighbors and friends. John was known to have a joke up his sleeve.
Survivors include his wife, Jane Weis of Dovray, MN, four children and their spouses, Jeff and Kelly Weis of Westbrook, MN, Janae and Randy Appel of Queen Creek, AZ, James “Jamie” and Robin Weis of Jeffers, MN, and Jolynn “Jo” and Michael Edwards of Tracy, MN, 14 grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, four siblings and their spouses, Mary and Robert Anderson, Dorothy and Doug Kuehl, Helen and Lee Peterson and Jan Johnson all of Westbrook, MN, one sister-in-law, Seung “Susie” Weis of Tucson, AZ and several nieces and nephews and their families. He is preceded in death by his parents, infant brother, Thomas, and two brothers, Keith and Robert Weis.
Memorial Services were at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Currie, MN on Saturday, November 6, 2021, with Msgr. R. Paul Heiting officiating. The organist was Patty LeClaire. The song leader was Matt Kopperud. The honorary pallbearers were grandchildren, family and friends, Eric Buchholz, Logan Weis, Mackenzie Weis, Brooklyn Appel, Tyler Appel, Austin Appel, Hallee Appel, Nautica Weis, Bianca Weis, Mikayla Weis, Samantha Edwards, Emma Edwards, Allison Edwards, Mesa Edwards, Gene McClellan, David McClellan, Randy Shaw, Rick Patch, Jim Shaw, Chuck Bierman, and Micky Dumas. Interment is at Calvary Cemetery in Currie, MN. Military honors were accorded by the Westbrook VFW Post.
Totzke Funeral Home of Slayton was entrusted with arrangements. To send condolences visit totzkefuneralhome.com