John Henry Eliasen Jr. passed away Jan. 24, 2018, in Harlingen, Texas, from complications after heart surgery.
He was born in Duluth on April 24, 1933, to J. Henry and Ellen (Spelman) Eliasen. He graduated high school in 1950 in Grand Marais and attended college at St. Olaf College and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1953, and, due to unusual circumstances, also served in the Army National Guard at UMD, the Air Force, and the Marines. He attended flight school in Pensacola, Fla.; served as a Navy pilot, Lt. J.G., stationed in Okinawa, Alaska, Whidby Island (Wash.), and San Diego; and was honorably discharged in 1957.
He married Sharon Noyes in 1957, and they moved, briefly, to Milwaukee. They then purchased and operated Clearwater Lodge on the Gunflint Trail in Grand Marais. They built a home on Maple Hill and John Henry resumed logging (his real passion since early childhood). Through the years he owned and operated North Shore Jobbing and Eliasen Equipment, buying and selling logging machinery.
John Henry and Sharon purchased and remodeled their current home on the Lake Superior shore in the early 1980s. He enjoyed remodeling a cabin and sailing on Devil Track Lake.
He and Sharon spent the past 11 years wintering in Rancho Viejo, Texas (105 Santa Ana Ave., 78575) with wonderful friends and family visits.
Since he would enjoy a good list: He was a gardener, chef, inventor, avid reader, artist, bread baker, lifelong learner, researcher, mechanic, welder, tinkerer, eclectic collector, boat builder, woodworker, organizer, and hard worker. He had a great sense of humor and loved to tease. He especially enjoyed his family, dogs, Lake Superior, and small children. He was tough, strong, generous, affectionate, loyal, sentimental, and one of a kind. His wide toothy grin, twinkling eyes, and chuckle will be missed by many. He lived out his motto every day: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
JHE is survived by his wife, Sharon, of 60 years; four children, Janis (Bud) Viren of Billings, Christy (Steve) Lindell of Seattle, Karin (Moshe) Bronstein of Petah Tikvah, Israel, and Donn (Geri) Eliasen of Grand Marais; three grandchildren, Matthew (Angel) Viren (Billings), Mia Lindell (San Francisco), and Berit Lindell (Boston); and three great-grandchildren,
Pierce, Johnathan, and Gunnar; three siblings, Barbara Brown, Ruth (Charles) Tice, and James (Liz) Eliasen; and many nieces and nephews.
There was a gathering to celebrate his life with his Rancho Viejo friends and neighbors and a few family members on Friday, Jan. 26.
A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, July 28 at 2 p.m. at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais. Memorial gifts may be given to Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais or to Trinity Lutheran Church in Hovland.
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