John Gilbert Stephan

John Gilbert Stephan was born September 4, 1914, to Vincent and Anna (Chizek) Stephan near Brook Park, Minnesota.  He spent his childhood years there on the family farm and attended a rural elementary school and then high schools in Brook Park and Hinckley.Following graduation, John moved to Chicago, Illinois to attend business school.  While there he met his future wife, Dorothy Rikert, and they were married on October 4, 1941.  They both worked at office jobs in Chicago for a few years while starting their family.John and Dorothy moved from Chicago to a farm they purchased east of Pine City, Minnesota.  While farming and raising their five children, John also worked many years for the Pine County Highway Department.  Following retirement, John and Dorothy enjoyed traveling throughout the United States in their motor home.From his early childhood years until later in his life, John loved hunting and fishing.  At first he went in the company of his dad and brothers, then with Dorothy and his children, and finally with his grandchildren.  Following Dorothy’s death in 2005, John moved from the farm to a house in Pine City, and finally to the Golden Living Center in Rush City, Minnesota, where he died in his sleep on September 20, 2011.  He had reached the age of 97 years.He is survived by his sons and daughter:  Paul & Lois Stephan of Brook Park, Michael Stephan and Greg & Kathy Stephan, all of Pine City, Mark & Robyn Stephan of Lindstrom, MN, and Anita & Mike Berneck of Park Rapids, MN; grandchildren:  Branden Stephan, Joycelyn (Nick) Rydberg, Jamie Stephan, David (Sarah) Nicoll, Lisa (Jay) Bornhorst, Patrick (Jessica) Stephan, Amanda (Mike Graff) Stephan, Vincent Stephan, Linnea Stephan, and Acadia Stephan; eight great grandchildren; sister-in-law  Lillian Stephan of Mora, MN; and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents Vincent and Anna Stephan, his wife Dorothy, daughter-in-law Donna Stephan, sister Lucile Faust, and brothers Vincent, Winfield, Lynn, Henry, and Harold Stephan.Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City.  The celebrant was Monsignor Aleksander Suchan.  Music was provided by Teena and Paul Bacigalupi.  Casket bearers were Branden Stephan, David Nicoll, Jay Bornhorst, Nick Rydberg, Patrick Stephan, and Vincent Stephan.  Interment was at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Pine City.Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Funeral & Cremation Service, Swanson Chapel, Pine City, Minnesota.