John Richard Lyght, a pioneering legend in Minnesota law enforcement, died Friday January 15, 2010 at the age of 82 at North Shore Hospital in Grand Marais.
John was born October 1, 1927 to H.P. and Stella Jefferson Jones Lyght in Lutsen where he was a life-long resident. After attending Cook County schools, he served in the Air Force.
He was employed by Foster Forbes Glass Co. as manager for their summer resort, and was a bus driver for Cook County School District for 19 years.
John served as a deputy sheriff for many years, until being appointed Cook County Sheriff in 1972. He quickly won the respect of the county’s mostly Scandinavian-heritage population. Two years later in his first election, he won with 97.4 percent of the vote. Tall and imposing, he served Cook County for 22 ½ years, retiring in 1994, as the only elected black sheriff in the state.
When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed fishing. John was a member of the Minnesota Sheriff ’s Association and the Minnesota Police and Peace Officer’s Association.
John was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Anne; a granddaughter Debi Greer; and brothers and sisters, Esther, Burt, Melvin, Norman, Willis, Mary, Martha, Emma, David and Robert.
John is survived by his wife, Gayle; his children, Mary Anne (Tom) Greer of TX, Bill (Ronell) Lyght of AZ, and Barbara Lyght (Don) Seaburg of MN; Gayle’s children, Melinda Boon of Manitoba, and Donna (Stewart) Luchies of Alberta; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; sisters, Hattie and Shelia of Minneapolis, and brothers, Art (Lutye) of Minneapolis and Jesse (Barbara) of Thunder Bay.
Visitation was from 10 AM until the 11 AM service on Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at Lutsen Evangelical Lutheran Church, followed by burial in Lutsen Cemetery. Arrangements by Cavallin Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Lutsen EMS/First Responders, PO Box 151, Lutsen, MN 55612.
William F. Spinner, 68, of Boyne City, Michigan died unexpectedly on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital of a pulmonary embolus. William was born on December 14, 1941 in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, the son of Peter and Loretta Spinner.
Bill graduated from Iowa State University, Ames, IA on November 23, 1963. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service in MO, MN, MI and Wisconsin, retiring in 1997. Besides his work, he also enjoyed sailing, traveling and reading.
Visitation and memorial service for Bill was held Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at Christ Lutheran Church in Boyne City. Pastor Kenneth Bernthal officiated.
The family request memorial donations be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, 9221 Ward Parkway, Suite 400, Kansas City, MO 64114-3367.
Family and friends wishing to share a thought or memory of Bill are encouraged to do so online at www.stonefuneralhomeinc.com. Stackus Funeral Home of Boyne City is serving the family.
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