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John Eling Sr.

John R. Eling Sr., age 75 of Blaine, Minnesota, formerly of Lakeland, passed away February 19, 2022 at Abbot Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis. John was born on October 16, 1946, in St. Paul to Otis Sr. and Shirley (Durand) Eling. He grew up in West St. Paul and graduated from Simley High School with the class of 1964. On May 4, 1964, John was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Jo Ann Rodgers. Their marriage was blessed with two children, John Jr. and Kelly. After high school, John continued his education through a work-study program with 3M in which he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He would later retire from 3M after a long career as an Engineer. John loved his family and cherished the time spent with his grandchildren at pool parties and sleepovers. He enjoyed teaching other to water ski and swim, and was fond of woodworking, often making bird houses and squirrel houses. John appreciated music and liked the older country music he grew up listening to. He could play the acoustic and bass guitar, and was know to get everyone singing, dancing and laughing when he played at family gatherings. He adored cats and had an obscure sense of humor that nobody else seemed to understand. Sadly, Jo Ann died from cancer in 2012, and just two years later, in 2014, John Jr. passed away. Since, John met Mary Beth Regelman, and the two friends were married on May 17, 2017 in New Brighton. They have spent the last 5 years supporting and looking after each other.

John will remain in the hearts of his wife, Mary Beth Eling; his daughter, Kelly Goplin; daughter-in-law, Pauline Eling; grandchildren, Kara Goplin, Trenton Goplin, Nicholas Eling, Jessica Eling, Anthony Eling, and Charlene Eling; step-children, Amy (Daniel) Sansom, Matthew Regelman, and Susan (Michael) St. Dennis; step-grandson, Martin St. Dennis; and many other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Jo Ann; his son, John Jr.; his parents, Otis Sr. and Shirley Eling; and brother, Otis Eling Jr.

A gathering of family and friends to celebrate John’s life will be held from 12:00-3:00 p.m. Monday, February 28, 2022 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 520 S. 11th St., Hudson, WI. Interment at Lakeview Cemetery in Lakeland. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Humane Society.

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