John Merrill Aanonson, 85, of Rose Creek, Minn., passed away at St. Mark’s Lutheran Home on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2013.

John was born Aug. 21, 1927, on the family farm in Nevada Township, Minn., to Lewis and Ethel (Hofland) Aanonson. John attended school in Nevada Township District 11, and was a baptized and confirmed member of Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church, Lyle, Minn.

John married Beverly Lewison at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Austin, Minn. They were married for 66 years. The couple had two daughters, four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and two great-great-granddaughters. John worked as a Rose Creek School custodian for several years, and then became manager of the Lumber Yards in Adams and Rose Creek. He joined the Rose Creek Fire Dept and served 17 years, serving as assistant chief and then chief for 10 years. John built and operated the Rose Bowl Lanes in Rose Creek. Later on he also worked as a security guard at Hormel Foods Corporation for 13 years before retiring.

John is survived by his wife Beverly of Rose Creek; two daughters, Diane and Gerald “Jerry” Sampson of Lyle, Janice and Craig Murphy of Austin; grandchildren, Michele (Mike Bruggeman) Douglas, St. Ansgar, Iowa, Steven (Nikki) Sampson, St. Ansgar, Jeremy (Annie) Sampson, Melbourne, Australia, Adam Murphy, Austin; five great-grandchildren, Chase (Heather Farrell) Douglas, Lyle, Schyler (Michael Hutchinson) Douglas, Austin, Ben Sampson, Melbourne, Ty and Brody Sampson, St. Ansgar; and great-great-granddaughters, Sarah and Baley Douglas, Lyle; a brother, Glen Aanonson; brother-in-law and wife, Curtis and Kay Lewison; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis and Ethel Aanonson; siblings, Leonard Aanonson and Elvera (Vera) Gerber; and in-laws, John O. and Belva Lewison.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, 2013, at Six Mile Grove Lutheran Church, rural Lyle, with Pastor Lydia Mittag officiating. Visitation will be held at the Worlein Funeral Home on Thursday evening, where friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. and one hour before the service at the church on Friday morning. Interment will be in Six Mile Grove Cemetery. Services prearranged and performed by Worlein Funeral Home of Austin. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.