John Sturgess

John Sturgess, 76, Wahpeton, ND, died Sunday, February 14, 2010, at Innovis Hospital , Fargo , ND . The funeral service will be Thursday, 10:30 a.m., at Evergreen United Methodist Church , Wahpeton, with Rev. Paul Baker officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 5 PM to 8 PM at Willow Creek Chapel, ( 920 3 ^rd Ave. N. ) Wahpeton. Interment will be at Fairmount Cemetery , Fairmount , ND , in the spring. Vertin-Munson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John was born July 6, 1933 at Hankinson , ND , the son of William (John) and Dorothy (Leavitt) Sturgess. He was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Methodist Church , south and east of Fairmount , ND . He attended and graduated from Hankinson High School . After his graduation he went to NDSSS in Wahpeton where he studied Auto Mechanics.

On November 20, 1952 John married Donna M. Schuschke at Holy Cross Lutheran Church , Lidgerwood , ND . The couple made their home near New Effington, SD and later moved to a farm north of Rosholt , SD. He sold seed for Jacques Seed Co. and then for Mycogen Seed for more than 35 years. In the fall of 2000, John and Donna moved to their new home in Wahpeton. In May of 2008, after Donna’s death and John’ stroke, he moved into St. Catherine’s Living Center in Wahpeton.

John enjoyed farming, gardening, hunting, and his dairy cows. He also enjoyed spending time with his friends, playing cards and visiting. He especially loved to spend time with his family seeing his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

John is survived by: two children, Bruce (Lorelei) Sturgess, Hankinson, ND, Brenda (Rodrick) Lentz, Lidgerwood, ND; seven grandchildren, Jennifer (Scott) Schmitt, Kimberly Sturgess, Justin (Jessica) Sturgess, Britney Sturgess, Bradley Sturgess, Jessica Lentz, and Danielle Lentz; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Chase, Alayna, and Beck Schmitt and step great-grandchildren, Haley Lehmier and Austin Ballhagen; three sisters, Joyce Tischer, Breckenridge, MN, Janice (Dale) Dieke, Wahpeton, Jean Chartrand, Breckenridge; mother-in-law, Loretta Schuschke and sister-in-law Kay Jackson both of Eagan, MN; sister-in-law, Pat Hoffman, Moorhead, MN; brother-in-law, Jim Schuschke, Great Falls, MT; and several nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife Donna on February 24, 2008.