John Wallgren

John A. Wallgren, age 60, of Faribault, MN, passed away January 16, 2016, at his home, following an extended illness.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the First English Lutheran Church in Faribault.

Memorial visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory in Faribault on Wednesday from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. and on Thursday for one hour prior to the services at the church.

John Arthur was born on March 20, 1955, in Geneseo, IL to John R. and Elaine (Roedecker) Wallgren. He graduated from Faribault High School with the class of 1973. John had a passion and devotion to caring for the mentally handicapped. He owned and operated Maplewood Homes of Faribault for the past 20 years, carrying on the tradition of care his family established for generations. Because of the care he provided, all at the homes knew him as "pa". He enjoyed life on the lake, whether it was boating, fishing, or pulling the grandkids around the lake. He also loved riding his Harley Davidson and restoring classic cars. John was an incredibly talented carpenter, sketching out his work, and constructing, remodeling and repairing most anything. He was a man who loved life and shared that with others through his singing and dancing.

He is survived by his soul mate, Lisa Quernemoen; children, Jenny (Wallgren) Erickson (and Brian), Stacy (Wallgren) Fredericksen (and Zach), Tohnia (Wallgren) Schmidt (and Patrick), Heidi Wallgren, Michael and Sarah Quernemoen, Aaron and Nicole Sublet, and Brent Quernemoen (Sara Blow); 15 grandchildren; sisters, Linda (Wallgren) Miller (and fiancé, J. Bryan Warren), and Cheryl (Wallgren) Ruths; brother-in-law, Denny Thompson; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John R. and Elaine; sister, Susan (Wallgren) Thompson; and brother-in-law, Jack Ruths.