John A. Erickson, Jr. - Rochester
John A. Erickson, Jr. passed away Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at Sunrise Living Center.
He was the son of John, Sr. and Clothilde Erickson. John Jr. was born Sept. 6, 1924, in St. Paul. He grew up in St. Paul, and entered the U.S. Navy in 1942, ultimately becoming a Pharmacist’s Mate 1st Class during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He married Doris "Dottie" Mae Gainey in 1946 and moved to Mankato. Together, they had one son, John III. The couple later divorced.
John Jr. and his son John III moved to Rochester in 1957, where he went to work at Admiral Merchants. John worked in the transportation business for over 50 years, beginning at Murphy Motor Freight in Mankato and then on to Admiral Merchants in Rochester and Brink Motor Freight in Winona. In April of 1972, he married LeMoyne "Lee" V. Broeckel Eggleston. She passed away in 2011.
John Jr. and Lee loved to play golf, and both even hit a hole-in-one at Maple Valley Golf Course. They enjoyed taking vacations to Black Duck, to fish and relax. John Jr. got his love of fishing at an early age from his father at the family cabin on Sturgeon Lake, where he was taught fishing skills during summer vacations.
He is survived by his son, John (Aliese) A. Erickson III of Rochester; a granddaughter, Melissa (Paul) Pierre of St. Charles; a great-granddaughter, Mia Pierre; a step-granddaughter, Hende Pierre and step-grandson, Jantzen Valentine both of Onalaska, Wis.; a niece, Jeannie (George) Kinsel of Cross Lake,; and nephews, Jerry and Joel Rieger of St. Paul. He is also survived by Lee’s children, step-daughters, Sandra (Ron) Heggebo of Rochester and Bridget (Ike) Carr of New Smyrna Beach Fla.; two step-sons, Rod (Ann) Eggleston of Chicago and Steve Eggleston of Brainerd; step-grandchildren, Tim (Tammie) McMahan, Joshua Eggleston, Matthew Eggleston and Mark Eggleston; and three step-great-grandchildren.
John Jr. is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Lee, his sister, Dorothy Rieger, and his ex-wife, Dottie.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, at Bethel Lutheran Church, with Rev. Norman Wahl officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services. Burial of ashes will take place at Grandview Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Rochester.
The Erickson family extends a special thank-you to Whitewater Golden Living Center, Shalom Estates, Sunrise Cottages, and St. Croix Hospice for the loving care that was given to John Jr.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Alzheimers Disease research at the Mayo Clinic.