John ‘Jack’ Andreasen

John Peter Andreasen, better known to all who knew and loved him as “Jack,” passed away surrounded by his family, in Sioux Falls, S.D., on Feb. 22, 2017, at the age of 91.

He was preceded in death by Carol, his beloved wife of 64 years; his father, Peter, and mother, Rose; sister Margarethe (Vaneck); and brother Raymond.

He is survived by his children, Barbara Riddle (Merle), John (Yancey Thrift), Christine Hamilton and Peter (Cathleen); his granddaughters, Samantha Nisson (Jason), Courtney Woznial (Todd) and Heather Hamilton; as well as seven great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his sisters, Betty Miner of Tustin, Calif., and Rosemary Parker (Bill) of Burnsville; and his brother, Vernon Andersen (Shirley) of Spring Park; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Jack was born on Dec. 26, 1925, in Mound, Minnesota.  He graduated from Mound schools and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.  After his service, he attended college at the Minneapolis School of Music where he met Carol. They were married in Crookston on Sept. 1, 1948.   Jack began his teaching career at Mound High School.  Eventually, Jack was asked to develop a music program at Shirley Hills Elementary and spent the rest of his teaching career there.

Jack played the sweetest trumpet this side of heaven and spent most of his adult life when he wasn’t teaching, raising his family, for serving his community, playing the trumpet in bands throughout Minnesota.  He served as Commander of the Mound American Legion, was active for several terms as a Mound councilman, and directed Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church choir.  After leaving education in 1970, Jack and Carol ran a printing business in Mound and eventually moved to the Comfrey area where he and Carol published the Comfrey Times and Darfur Gazette well into their eighties.  Jack and Carol were active in the Bishop Whipple Mission / St. Cornelia’s Episcopal Church of Morton.  He became a deacon of the church and was the song leader, including leading hymns in the Dakota language.

Jack’s life was full of fun, laughter and music.  He was a tomato “fiend” who also loved learning new things, playing cards, reading, gardening and traveling.  He will be greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to know him, but the music of Heaven must certainly be sweeter.