John Queensland Jr., 70, of Elkton, passed away Aug. 5, 2011, at his home with his wife and loving family by his side.

John was born in Story City, Iowa on Jan. 18, 1941, to John and Edith (Karlson) Queensland. John was 3 years old when they moved to a farm in the Grand Meadow area where John graduated from high school in 1959. After farming for a few years, John was hired in 1967 to be the first grounds superintendent at the new Cedar River Country Club at Adams. He helped build the course from the ground up and proudly devoted his life to developing it into one of the premier courses in southeastern Minnesota. He retired from CRCC in 2005 after serving for 37 years.

John was united in marriage to Pauline Ruud on April 15, 1961, and to this union three children were born. They moved to a farm in rural Adams where John was a member of Marshall Lutheran church and where they lived when Pauline passed away in 2001. In 2004, he married Peggy Hamilton at Westminster Presbyterian church and became a member there.

Each January John would make the trek to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he donned his Trade-Expos hat and helped set up the largest farm show in the upper Midwest. He established a reputation as the “lower level” organizer. He was active in the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association as a board member and was also on the scholarship committee for several years. He was an avid golfer and was proud of his three holes-in-one. His fishing skills were well known, as were the stories that came from his trips to Canada. He and Peggy enjoyed their winters in Arizona where he could hike the hills and mountains near Mesa and swim in the “cement pond.” They loved to travel, especially cruising. He loved parades and fireworks. His family was his pride and joy, and his friendships were boundless and long lasting. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Those left to mourn are his wife, Peggy; daughter, Susan (Steve) Speer of LeRoy; sons, Curtis of Rochester, David of Byron (special friend Angie); stepsons, Kevin (Barbara) of Hastings, Mark of Apple Valley, Terry (Cindy) of Adams; grandchildren, Chelsey and Megan Speer, Tyler, Haylee, and Brenna Queensland, step-grandchildren, Jesse, Travis and Brooke Hamilton, Sarah and Meghan Hamilton, Brandon, Brooke, Megan and Montanna Kinney; sisters, Edna Underwood (Myron Amundson), Joann (Eugene) Schaefer.

He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Pauline.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Austin, with the Rev. D. Andrew M. Lindahl officiating. Visitation will be Monday at the Adams Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Tuesday at the church for one hour before the service. Interment will be in the Marshall Lutheran Cemetery, Rural Adams.