Service Information
John H. Reynolds, age 80, husband of Jeanne, of South Haven, Minnesota, formerly of Hutchinson, Minnesota, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at Benedictine Assumption Home in Cold Spring, Minnesota.
Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 11:00 A.M. at Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel in Hutchinson, with interment at a later date in Morton City Cemetery in Morton, Minnesota.
Gathering of Family and Friends will be held Tuesday, July 8, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. and will continue one hour prior to the service at the funeral chapel.
Military Honors by Hutchinson Memorial Rifle Squad.
Memorials preferred to Girls Scouts Lakes and Pines, with gifts designated toward Camp Sanderson, or to the I.O.O.F. of Minnesota-Pilgrimage for Youth Fund, both organizations close to John’s heart.
Obituary
John Howard Reynolds was born on June 25, 1944, in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. He was the son of John “Jack” and Bernice “Bunny” (Hafften) Reynolds. John grew up on a farm in the Minnesota River Valley near Morton, Minnesota. He was baptized as an infant and later confirmed in his faith at the Methodist Church in Morton. John received his education in Morton and was a graduate of the Morton High School Class of 1962.
John entered active military service in the United States Air Force on July 30, 1962, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was stationed in Izmir, Turkey. John was discharged on July 15, 1965, at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado, and achieved the rank of Airman Basic.
After John returned from serving in the Air Force, he lived briefly in Glencoe, Minnesota, where he met Jeanne Goehring. On November 25, 1967, John and Jeanne were united in marriage at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Glencoe. This marriage was blessed with four children, Carrie, Lori, John, and Rebecca “Becky”. John and Jeanne moved to Hutchinson in 1968, where they built a home and raised their family. When they retired, they moved to their family cabin on Lake Marie in South Haven, Minnesota, where they enjoyed a quieter pace and the beauty of nature. John and Jeanne shared 57 years of marriage.
John was self-employed for more than 30 years, proudly owning and operating Hutchinson Fire and Safety as well as Reynolds Fence. Earlier in his career, he worked as Head of Maintenance at Hutchinson Industrial. Deeply committed to serving others, John gave generously of his time and talents to the community. He spent 27 years as a volunteer firefighter with the Hutchinson Fire Department, retiring as Rescue Squad Captain, and served on the ambulance squad at Hutchinson Hospital for over 20 years—always ready to help when it was needed most. He also shared his knowledge as an EMT instructor at Willmar Technical College, helping to train the next generation of first responders.
John was a longtime and devoted member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding many local and regional leadership roles across more than 15 lodges and patrols. In 2010–2011, he served internationally as Commanding Officer of the General Military Council within the Patriarchs Militant branch of the I.O.O.F. His commitment to the organization gave him the opportunity to travel extensively, representing the Odd Fellows at meetings and events—something he truly loved and took great pride in.
John was also a member of the American Legion Post 96 in Hutchinson and was a Lifetime Member of Girl Scouts of the USA, further reflecting his deep commitment to service and community. In addition, he was a charter member of the Crow River SnoPros Snowmobile Club, enjoying the camaraderie and adventure that came with time on the trails.
John had a deep love for the outdoors – especially during deer hunting season, working around the family farm, or simply sitting by the lake watching the birds. His dachshunds were constant companions over the years, with his most recent, Duchess, always by his side. John also had a great passion for country western music and attended Country Jam for three decades.
A natural storyteller with a booming laugh, John never met a stranger – he could find a familiar face in any crowd. Whether he ran into an old friend or struck up a conversation with someone new, he had a way of turning strangers into friends with a good joke or a heartfelt story.
More than anything, John loved his family. Time spent together – whether at home, at the lake, or gathered around the dinner table – meant the world to him. His legacy lives on in the stories he shared, the lives he touched, and the love he gave.
John will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
John passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at Benedictine Living Center in Cold Spring, Minnesota, at the age of 80 years.
Blessed be his memory.
John is survived by his:
Wife, Jeanne Reynolds of South Haven, MN;
Children, Lori Hornick-Lindell of Randall, MN,
John Lewis Reynolds and his wife, Stacie of Buffalo, MN,
Rebecca “Becky” Reynolds and her wife, Jessie Hoffmann of Cold Spring, MN;
Grandchildren, Brittney Nielsen and her husband, Cole of Dassel, MN,
Thomas Hornick of Randall, MN,
Madison Barske and her husband, Mitch of Medina, MN,
Meredith Reynolds of Buffalo, MN,
Marlo Reynolds of Buffalo, MN;
Great-grandchildren, Oliver, James, and Walter Nielsen of Dassel, MN;
Many other relatives and friends.
John is preceded in death by his Parents, John “Jack” and Bernice “Bunny” Reynolds; First Wife, Shirley Oakes; Daughter, Carrie Jean Reynolds; Sisters, Beatrice “Butch” Ahrens and Harriet Deinken.
Kristi Carlson says
Thoughts and prayers go out to the Reynolds family
Terry R Marguth says
I am very sorry to hear of John’s passing. He and his family were lifelong friends and when my mother had a long hospital stay when I was a young boy. I lived with the Reynold’s family for over 10 months. I was like a brother to him. I also was the boy that knocked out his front teeth while playing baseball. The stories could go on, but the most important part was my close relationship with him and his family. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the family!
Alice D. Legg says
Dear Family and especially SisterJeanne, may God be with you all now and always. Brother John was a gift that kept on giving . In F L and T, amen.
Arlene Moehring says
Jeanne and family – so sorry to read of John’s passing. May all your wonderful memories bring some comfort. I do recall John’s booming laugh (filled the entire room). Worked with John at HIC / HTI. Arlene & Larry Moehring
Dean & Nita Totushek says
Jeanne & family,
Sorry to hear of John’s passing. What a fun guy ! We remember all the good times we had spent at the service station on Main St & 2nd Ave corner with John. (if I remember correctly also at the station where Taco John’s is now) Never called him John, to us always “Rubber Ducky”. He was one of those Girl Scout dad’s you counted on. Rest in peace Rubber Ducky !
Mark says
Sorry to hear about John’s passing , John and his Dad Jack before him were always great neighbors ,and definitely were a couple of characters you will never forget , John would occasionally stop up and visit us at the the Auto salvage yard to see what was all happening around the area. Will greatly miss his good since of humor and his quick Witt’s. Our condolences to your family. Mark and Aileen Lund
Dave and Wendy wieweck says
Jeanne and family, so sorry to hear of John Howard’s passing. We hold you dear to our hearts from our daycare days. May you find peace from the memories. Dave and Wendy Wieweck and family
Jeff Nohner says
Deepest sympathies to the whole family.
Michael and Kelley Marvan says
Dear Reynolds Family we are very sorry to hear of Johns passing. So many great memories with all of you. He was a great person and fun to be around. Our thoughts and prayer are with you. He was one of a kind and will be missed. Mike, Kelley, and Tymen Marvan
Wendy says
I took EMT classes from John when I was pregnant with my first child. He joked with me and the class, that they were all going to be in the delivery room helping me with the birth. Needless to say, I didn’t have an audience at the birth. In later years, he would eat at the Buffalo A&W when it was “Coney Dog” day. Always good for a laugh. RIP John.
Sherwin and Donna Luthens says
Jeanne and family,
Hugs to you all at this sad time!! John was quite the guy! We remember the deer hunting days!! May he rest in peace and blessed be his memory!
Sherwin and Donna Luthens says
Jeanne and family,
Hugs to you all at this sad time!! We remember the deer hunting days! His support for the Girl Scouts!! May he rest in peace now and cherish his memory!!
Virginia Elliott says
john was always ready to help if you asked him. He presented my Degree of Chivalry in Tampa, Florida the year i was President of our LAPM. It was a little different than most presentations but appreciated just the same. Rest in Peace!
Bruce Roles says
Jeanne and Family –
Met John and then a lot of the rest of the family when being invited along for all the pheasant hunting on the farm. So many good memories and still often look at the pictures. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Barbara Anne Oakes says
Dear Jeanne Reynolds, Lori Horlick-Lindell, and family,
I’m so sorry to hear of John’s passing . My sister , Shirley Oakes, John’s first wife who passed at the young age of 19 would want our family to write something in John’s remembrance. I remember the night John asked her to marry him on a long distance phone call from Morton, Minnesota to Huntington Station, NY. My dad arrived home a few minutes later and Shirley rushed over to him and jumped in his arms to tell him John had asked her to marry him. . She was so happy and so excited. She left Huntington Station very shortly after that and she and John married each other in Morton ,Minnesota in 1965. They had first met in Izmir, Turkey where 19 year old John was serving our country in the USAir Force and 16 year old Shirley was living in Bornova,Turkey right outside of Izmir with our dad, mom, and our brother, Jim,15, and our baby brother ,John,1 1/2 years old. My dad had a Fullbright Grant and taught in a school in Bornova, Turkey for the year. Our family except for my sister, Peggy, all traveled to Turkey and lived there for a year. I lived in Istanbul and attended Roberts College and for my sophomore college year. Shirley came into Izmir everyday to attend school at the high school for dependents on the Air Force base. It was during that time from 1963 in September through 1964 in June that John Reynolds and Shirley met and became boyfriend and girlfriend. They married in 1965 and Shirley passed away of an asthma attack in 1967 only four days before her 20th birthday. I know she loved him very much. My brother ,John, my sister Peggy , and my sister , Nancy , and myself, Barbara(Bobbi) all send all of our sympathy to your family for your loss of John.
I’m glad he got to live 80 years and had such a wonderful marriage with Jeanne for over 50 years and had four beautiful children and then grandchildren. I’m very happy to have talked with and gotten to know Lori Honick-Lindell, one of their daughters.
Once again our sincerest sympathy for your families loss of John. May your lives be filled with friends and family and things to do that help you fill the missed love and time you have without John in your lives anymore.
Love,
Barbara Anne Oakes
Lynn Duhamel says
Dearest, Jeanne and family.
Bob and I Planned to come to Johns viewing, Due to an unforeseen issue we were out of town. So sorry to miss you and your family.
We go back a long way, many great memories when we were younger, I remember you put in a good word for me when I applied at Pamida, I was hired the same day. You were in our wedding. John was a good fun person always smiling. ( Many years have passed.)
Our thoughts and prayers are with you .
Love the Duhamels