John Queensland Jr., 70, of Elkton, passed away Friday, 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 three 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 Southeast 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, serving as a board member and 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 went with the trips to Canada. He and Peggy thoroughly 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.
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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, and David of Byron (special friend Angie); step-sons, Kevin (Barbara) of Hastings, Mark of Apple Valley and 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) and Joann (Eugene) Schaefer.
He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Pauline.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2011, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Austin, with the Reverend Dr. Andrew M. Lindahl officiating. Visitation will be Monday at the Adams Funeral Home from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Tuesday at the church for one hour before the service. Interment will be in the Marshall Lutheran Cemetery in rural Adams.
