John E. Ball

Obituary

John Edwin Ball was born on February 24, 1937, in Bruce, Wisconsin. He was the son of Leslie and Stella (Perkins) Ball. John was baptized as an adult at Zion Lutheran Church in Chisago City, Minnesota. He received his education in Hutchinson, Minnesota, and was a graduate of the Hutchinson High School Class of 1955. John furthered his education at University of Minnesota School of Agriculture.

On December 14, 1963, John was united in marriage to Joanne Carlson at Zion Lutheran Church in Chisago City. This marriage was blessed with three children, James, Susan, and Karen. John and Joanne resided in rural Hutchinson, and in 2024 moved to Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. They shared 61 years of marriage.

John was a crop farmer in rural Hutchinson. He retired in 2020.  John was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Hutchinson. He served as a past board member of McLeod County Corn Growers, McLeod County Soybean Growers, Farmers Elevator, Hutchinson School District, Aveyron Homes, and McLeod County ARC. He was also a member of the Masons. John was proud to receive the McLeod County Farm Family of the Year in 1991.

John enjoyed listening to old time, Dixieland, and jazz music, dancing, and water skiing. He also enjoyed going on “farm trips”, and visiting the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He played clarinet and tenor saxophone in the band Riverside Dutchmen. He cherished spending time with his family, grandchildren and friends.

John passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at Summerwood of Chanhassen in Chanhassen, Minnesota, at the age of 88 years.

Blessed be his memory.

John is survived by his:
Wife, Joanne Ball of Inver Grove Heights, MN;
Children, James Ball of Litchfield, MN,
                Susan Heil and her husband, Bill of Waconia, MN,
                Karen Paone and her husband, Chris of Inver Grove Heights, MN;
Grandchildren, Sara Heil of Watertown, MN, Matthew Heil of Fairfield, OH;
Brother-in-law, Loren Carlson and his wife, Florence of Rochester, MN;
Many other relatives and friends.

John is preceded in death by his Parents, Leslie and Stella Ball; Sister-in-infancy, Elizabeth Ball; Brother-in-law, Jerome Carlson; Sister-in-law, Gloria Carlson; Nephew, Keith Carlson.