1948 married Muriel "Dolly" Okkelberg

John Family in the Collection

John's Obituary

John O. Ylvisaker, age 86 of Zumbrota died at his home in Zumbrota on Sunday, January 1, 2012. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 11:00 am at the United Redeemer Lutheran Church, 560 West 3rd Street, Zumbrota, with Pastor Tom Isaacson officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 4, 2012 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at United Redeemer Lutheran Church and also Thursday one hour prior to the service at the church.

John Olney Ylvisaker was born on July 8, 1925 in Greytown, South Africa to Johan F. and Sevilla (nee Hill) Ylvisaker. John's mother died when John was very young and his father was a missionary in South Africa. John lived in South Africa until the age of thirteen when he moved to Zumbrota. He graduated from Zumbrota High School in 1943. Shortly after graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served in the South Pacific Theatre of Operations during World War II. After his honorable discharge he returned to Zumbrota and enrolled at Luther College in Decorah, IA. On September 11, 1948 he married Muriel "Dolly" Okkelberg at Minneola Lutheran Church. In 1951 John graduated from Luther College and started his teaching career in Elbow Lake, MN. He taught Chemistry/Physics in Elbow Lake for three years and Princeton, MN for three years. John earned his Master's Degree from Montana State University - Bozeman. In 1957 John started teaching in Zumbrota and he taught there until he retired in 1988. John was active in his community belonging to the 65-50 Club, Lions Club, American Legion Post and was a Scoutmaster for eleven years. He was a member of United Redeemer Lutheran Church. John enjoyed camping, canoeing, tinkering and repairs around the house, feeding the birds, spending time with his grandchildren and especially enjoyed being part of the Honor Flight to Washington DC. John and Dolly wintered for many years in the Southern states.

John is survived by his wife Dolly; children, Kent (Sharie) Ylvisaker of Punta Gorda, FL, Eric Ylvisaker of Minneapolis, Jean (John) Ohman of St. Cloud and Rolf (Julie) Ylvisaker of Eau Claire, WI; grandchildren, Andrew, Brent, Amy, and Ona Ylvisaker and Anya and Ian Smith; great-great granddaughters, Rachel and Carly McMahan; sister, Ruth Ylvisaker of Port Washington, WI and daughter-in-law, Anne Heuring of St. Paul. Jon was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother, Son, John; sisters, Rebecca Ylvisaker and Heloise Blanchar. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the ELCA Global Missions.