John Edward McElevey passed away May 17, 2019 at the age of 88.
He was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 11, 1930 to Clark and Eleanor McElevey. Growing up, John lived in Chicago, Illinois, Winter, Wisconsin, and St. Louis Park and Detroit Lakes, Minnesota before moving to Grand Marais, Minnesota with his family when he was 16 years old. He played on the 1947 District championship Grand Marais High School basketball team.
John attended Hamline University and the University of Minnesota Duluth. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1951 and was stationed in Korea as a medic with the U.S. Marine Corps before being discharged in 1955. He attended North Dakota State University School of Pharmacy. On June 22, 1957, he married Mary Anderson in Two Harbors, Minnesota.
After his graduation from NDSU in 1958, they moved to Grand Marais, where he began working as a pharmacist for Peterson Drug. John purchased the business in 1960 and later changed the name to Village Drug before relocating the pharmacy to the old Arrowhead Hotel building on Highway 61. He sold the pharmacy in 1979 and worked as a pharmaceutical sales representative. After retiring in 1998, he enjoyed construction work with several local contractors.
John and Mary had three daughters: Jane, Lynn and Lee Ann. Together, they tackled many remodeling projects, enjoyed berry picking, and traveling. John was an active member of the Lions Club, Masonic Lodge, American Legion, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church. He served on the Cook County School Board, Lions Club Board of Directors, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church Council.
John was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mary, his parents, and an infant brother, Clark Jr.
John is survived by his brother Charles, daughters Janie Dahl (Steve), Lynn Schulte (Craig), Lee Ann Bonin (Phil), nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2019 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais. The family requests memorial donations to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or the Cook County Historical Society.
Leave a Reply