John J. Walz, 97, a longtime resident of Alexandria, Minnesota, died on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, surrounded by his family at Grand Arbor in Alexandria.

Mass of Christian burial is at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Alexandria with Father Steven Binsfeld officiating. Music is provided by pianist, Laurie Youngers and cantor, Erin Takle. Burial will take place at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. Full military honors accorded by Minnesota Army Honor Guard, American Legion Post 87, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 936, Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter 235 and the Marine Corps League Detachment 1409.

Visitation is from 4-7 p.m., Friday at Lind Family Funeral Home in Alexandria with parish prayers at 4 p.m., and a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7 p.m. The visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

John Jacob was born on Jan. 25, 1920, in Fenton, Iowa, to Albert and Martha (Gappa) Walz. He grew up in Hollandale, Minnesota, on the family farm where he attended public schools and graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1938. Following his education, he worked for Produce State Bank in Hollandale and First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota. He served in the United States Army Corp of Engineers as Master and 1st Sargent in Rhineland, Germany, and Central Europe from 1942-1945. He was united in marriage to Dorine Ann Kapsner on March 6, 1943, at the Ft. Snelling Chapel in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Following his honorable discharge, he returned to work at First National Bank in Northfield before moving to Alexandria in 1948. He worked as manager for the Douglas County Insurance Agency in Alexandria for 34 years, retiring in 1982.

He was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and its committees, past Commander of the Alexandria American Legion Post 87, Alexandria VFW Post 936, Knights of Columbus Council 4718 and Alexandria Library Board.

He enjoyed coin collecting, fishing, gardening, bird watching and appreciating and observing nature throughout his life. He especially relished time spent with his family and helping others.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Dorine; parents; three sisters, Kathryn Halferty, Lillian Sainer and Rozella Hanson; and two brothers, Leo Walz and Jerome Walz.

John is survived by his three children, Joan (Hane) Carlson of Minnetonka, Minnesota, Jim (Gayle) Walz and Mary (Kevin) Jones both of Alexandria; two sisters, Mary Helen O’Neil of Bettendorf, Iowa, and Dolores Overby of Austin; brother, Albert (Yvonne) Walz of Rochester; nine grandchildren, Bjorn Carlson, Sean Carlson, Kristin Kittelson, Tracy Sunvold, Deanne Walz, John Walz, Kelly Jones, Alex Jones and Chris Jones; and 21 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be John’s grandsons.

Memorials are preferred to Lions Club Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Arrangements provided by Lind Family Funeral & Cremation Services, www.lindfamilyfh.com