John Austin Holmes

John Holmes passed to the Lord’s hands Monday, September 20, 2021 at his home in Bruno. He is now again with Mary, his wife of 51 years and together they make a big set of angels.

John Austin Holmes was born August 13, 1933 in Leonidas, just west of Eveleth, Minnesota. He was the youngest of five children. His father was Earl Sr., a superintendent in the mines and his mother was Hannah (Talbakka) Holmes. Hannah labored for a full week giving birth to a 14 pound 2 ounce baby, yes John was big even at birth. John graduated from Gilbert High School with the class of 1951. He then was drafted into the United States Army in June 1953, serving as a Cook in the Korean War, receiving an honorable discharge in 1955. Upon returning home, he met Mary Charlene Milroy, feel in love, and they were married September 10, 1955. They had three children, Robin, John, and Scottie.

John was a worker at very young age. As young man, prior to having a driver’s license, he drove milk truck delivering milk for his brother Earl Jr. and later when Earl sold his dairy started driving for Kangas Jacobsen Dairy. He also worked with brother Earl in their dirt contracting business with one of the largest projects building the infrastructure for the town of Hoyt Lakes, MN. On November 12, 1956, John started working for Minnesota Power & Light at the Laskin steam generation station between Aurora and Hoyt Lakes. He was promoted to Substation operator and moved to Hibbing in 1967, and was promoted again in 1969 and moved his family to Duluth where he ended his MP&L career working a total of 38 years before retirement. John was gifted and could fix almost anything. After retirement he kept busy traveling with Mary, helping his children and grandchildren and working on projects.

John is survived by his children Robin (Jim) Licari of Gilbert, John Holmes of Rifle, CO and Scottie (Sharry) Holmes of Bruno; 4 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren.

John was proceeded in death by his parents Earl and Hannah Holmes, Sr.; granddaughter Elizabeth Leiviska; brothers Earl Holmes, Jr. and Gerald Holmes; sisters Audrey Fatooh and Joy Resman.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to: Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Funeral Chapel
www.FuneralAndCremationService.com