John Frederick May, 82

Published 6:39 am Tuesday, January 15, 2019

John Frederick May, 82, of Red Wing, Minnesota, died Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

John Frederick May, 82

He was born on June 1, 1936, in Austin, Minnesota, to Alfred and Pauline (Brown) May. He received his bachelor of arts in education from Winona State University in 1958 and his master of education from the University of Minnesota in 1968. On June 17, 1961, he was united in marriage to Janet Betty in Duluth, Minnesota. They lived in Red Wing, where he taught business at the Red Wing High School from 1958-1969, served as chairman of the Business Education Department, and coached football, wrestling and baseball. From 1969 to 1982, he worked for SB Foot Tanning Company in sales and marketing, serving as the director in 1981.

In 1982, he and Jan moved to Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where he became the executive director for American Medical International with St. Paul Surgical Center and Minneapolis Single Day Surgery Center. He later served as corporate director of administration with American MedCenters Health Plan in 1984. He entered the securities industry in 1986 at Drexel Burnham, later Smith Barney, before moving to Morgan Stanley in 1992 as vice president of investments. John retired in 2002. John was a member of the Church of St. Joseph in Red Wing. He served on the YMCA and the Red Wing Country Club boards. John was an avid golfer and enjoyed many golf trips to Arizona and Hawaii with his wife Jan and golfing friends. John’s legacy is his love for his bride of 57 years and his family, his unending positive attitude and his belief that there is opportunity around every corner.    

John is survived by the love of his life, Jan, of 57 years; three daughters, Annette (Michael) Linder of Eagan, Minnesota, Barbara (Tim) Haley of Red Wing and Diane May of Red Wing; seven grandchildren, Sarah, Megan and Brian Linder, Casie and Jack Pawlik and Joseph and Maria Haley; two sisters, Donna (Tom) Maas and Marianne (Chuck) Frein, both of Austin; one brother, Donald (Sandy) May of Austin; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and three granddaughters, Anna, Grace and Kathryn Haley.

A celebration of life service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at the Church of St. Joseph in Red Wing with Father Thomas M. Kommers officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel, and for one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Memorials are preferred to Mayo Red Wing Hospice or the Live Strong Program at the YMCA. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.mahnfamilyfuneralhome.com.