John E. Okke

John E. Okke passed away on Sunday, February 23, 2025, in his home under the care of Hospice of the Red River Valley and surrounded by his family.

John was born June 29, 1942, to Anthony and Anna (Gutzmer) Okke. He grew up on a farm in rural Glyndon, MN.

He married Judy Johnson in December 1975. They had three children DeOnne, Angela, and Alan.

John was a diesel mechanic for Ames Sand and Gravel for 19 years and in 1975 purchased a dairy farm near Pelican Rapids, MN. Retired from dairy farming in 2021.

John enjoyed drag racing and car racing as a young man and enjoyed western movies and growing LOTS of tomatoes. He was a master machinist and could fix anything. He loved to eat ice cream and frosting off cake. All the ducks in the back of the barn were his friends and NO one could hunt them.

John was preceded in death by his parents, daughter DeOnne Crow, brothers: Fred, Walter, and Robert, father-in-law Charles Johnson, mother-in-law Adele DeBoer, and brother-in-law Daryl Johnson.

John is survived by Judy Okke; daughter Angela (Robert) Mann, Gainesville, FL; son Alan (Stephanie) Okke, Vergas, MN; grandchildren: Judith Crow and John Crow, Pelican Rapids, MN; Alexander Okke, Vergas, MN; Spencer Okke and Megan Okke, Fargo, ND; Aliyah Mann, Gainesville, FL; and brother Ike (Katie) Okke, Moorhead, MN.

Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 2 to 5 pm at Zion Lutheran Church on Franklin Lake, Pelican Rapids, Minnesota.

Please keep John's family in your thoughts and prayers.