John N. Hubin

Obituary

John Nelson Hubin was born June 17, 1952, at the Hutchinson Hospital in Hutchinson, Minnesota. He was the son of Garland and Elaine (Nelson) Hubin. John was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren Church (now United Methodist) in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota. John grew up working with his father at the Buffalo Lake News. He graduated with the class of 1970 from Buffalo Lake High School. Following graduation, he attended Brown Institute for broadcasting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa. In the early 1970s, John began working at the West Central Tribune in Willmar, Minnesota, while still working with his father in Buffalo Lake.

On April 6, 1974, John married Loretta Jean Weflen at West Norway Lake Lutheran Church (now Hope Lutheran), a little country church in rural Sunburg, Minnesota. They lived in Willmar until late 1977, when they moved to Buffalo Lake for a short time. Four children were welcomed into their family, Aaron, Abby, Alaina and Anna. Thirteen grandchildren and one great-grandson followed. John loved his family with all his heart. Throughout his life he enjoyed finding ways to spend quality time with his children and grandchildren. A special treat in the summer was an overnight camping trip to Lake Allie Park in Buffalo Lake where they would camp, fish, cookout and golf. All of his grandkids would help him line the railroad tracks behind his house with pennies and then pick them up after the train had flattened them. Hundreds of flattened pennies were collected over the years.

In 1977, John, along with his brother Ken, took over the Buffalo Lake News from their father. They bought the Hector Mirror that fall and John and Loretta moved to Hector in 1978. In 1982, the Buffalo Lake News and the Hector Mirror were combined to make the News*Mirror. In 1989, the Bird Island Union was purchased. John became the sole owner of the newspapers, buying out his brother in 2000. John had the pleasure of welcoming his son Aaron to work alongside him at the newspapers. In 2018, the two newspapers became one, the News*Mirror Union. John continued working with his wife and son until 2021 when he was diagnosed with Dementia.

John was very civic minded and was a charter member of the Hector Lions, and was involved in many other organizations including Hector Economic Development, Renville County Fair Board, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, the Minnesota Newspaper Association, and many others.

Sports were a big part of John’s life. He formed a youth football program called KidSport for third through sixth grade students from Hector, Buffalo Lake, Stewart, Bird Island, and Olivia. He coached for over 30 years. Many students benefited from his organization.

Growing up in a musical family, John had a deep love and appreciation for music his entire life. He directed the church choir at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Buffalo Lake for over 30 years and then continued to direct choirs at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hector when his grown children and their families began attending there. John sang in the Hector Community Choir and at numerous wedding and funerals. He was a member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hector.

On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, John was welcomed into heaven. He had reached the age of 73 years.

John is survived by his;
Loving Wife of 51 years, Loretta;
Children, Aaron (April) Hubin of Hector,
Abby Krippner of Hector,
Alaina (Matt) DeYoung of Geneva, IL,
and Anna (Doug) Kuttner of Hutchinson;
13 Grandchildren: Morgan (Brett) Taylor of Mankato, MN, Chase Hubin of Mankato, Lily and Lauren Hubin of Hector, Austin Krippner and fiancé Sidney Kruse of Maple Grove, MN, Isaac Krippner and girlfriend Abigail Fortman of Hutchinson, and Eva Krippner of Hector, Marissa, Haven, and Adriana DeYoung of Geneva, and Meisha, Mason, and Miles Kuttner of Hutchinson;
Great-grandson, Crew Taylor of Mankato;
Sister, Kerry (Sheldon) Manthei of Farmington, MN;
Brother, Ken (Laurie) Hubin of White Bear Lake, MN;
Brothers-in-law, Dennis (Bev) Weflen of Willmar and Dale Weflen of Sunburg;
Sisters-in-law, LuAnn (Gail) Schuette of Watertown, MN,
Lori (Dale) Lyrek of Winsted, MN;
along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his Father Garland W. Hubin (1979); Mother Elaine Nelson Hubin (2000); Father-in-law, Jerome Weflen (2013); Mother-in-law Eunice Weflen (2016); and brother Thomas Lane Hubin (1968).

He will remain in our hearts through the legacy and love he leaves behind.