John Sullivan

John P. Sullivan, age 86, of Baxter, MN, passed away on Monday, September 26, 2011 at the Saint Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN. He will be dearly missed by his family and the community.

John was born February 12, 1925, in Minneapolis, MN to Ruth M. and Edward F. Sullivan. His parents taught him to try to provide for others less fortunate than himself. John routinely put others' needs ahead of his own.

A 1943 graduate of Washington High School, John played football. He attended Brainerd Junior College and joined the Navy V-12 program, studying at Minot State Teacher's College; College of St. Thomas, Ashbury Park, NJ; Mid-Shipmen's School; and University of Cornell, Ithaca, NJ. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy in 1945 and served during WWII as the Acting Gunnery Officer on the USS Compton. Afterwards he attended the University of Minnesota in the Mechanical Engineering Program. His education was cut short when his brother Frank had a hunting accident in 1948, and John left college to assist his father with the family business: Park Region Timber Company. John became owner and President of Navillus Land Company, originally a holding company for the timberlands and now principally a land development company.

John was President of the Minnesota Timber Producer's Association from 1970-1972, served as Crow Wing County Republican Chairman and was elected to the Baxter School Board in 1952, on which he served for 17 years. As a member of the Crow Wing County School Survey Committee, he was responsible to study and develop the strategy for school district consolidation within Crow Wing County. He was President and Vice President of Build Brainerd, an organization for economic development of Brainerd. He sat on the Board of the Crow Wing County Planning and Zoning Commission and under his leadership, the first zoning ordinance was adopted. He served in various capacities of many other organizations, all dedicated to Brainerd/Baxter long term planning and development. He served on the Brainerd Heritage Assembly of God Church Board of Deacons and was especially proud of his over 25 years of service with their Royal Ranger Scouting Program, serving as Outpost Commander, Senior Commander, Section Commander and Sectional Staff. On July 14, 2005 John was selected philanthropist of the year by the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation. John was also a founding member of the Brainerd Lakes Area Community Foundation.

John was dedicated to his family as much as he was to his community. He married R. Darlene Forthun on February 18, 1950 and together they raised four children. After the death of his first wife, John remarried in 2001 to Mildred Gabrielson. He was proud to support his extended family's academic, musical, athletic, community and business achievements.

John is survived by his second wife of 11 years, Mildred Gabrielson; his son, Michael Sullivan (Linda), of Brainerd; daughters, Judith Sullivan Wagnitz (John), of Franklin, MI and Dawn Jones (Tom) of North Port, FL; grandchildren, Eric, Amy, and Debbi Sullivan; Kim Horn; Denise Peters; Jeff Hummel; Matthew Sullivan Wagnitz; and Erin Jones; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He is also survived by five step-children, Vicki Shanks, Linda Kaphingst, Carol Wilson, Richard Gabrielson, and Pam Evans; twelve step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Darlene; his brothers, Edward F. Sullivan and Jerrold J. Sullivan; daughter, Jeannine Hummel; grandson, James Hummel; and one great-grandson, Blair Haffner.

A celebration of John's life will be held Friday, September 30th, at 10:30 AM at the Heritage Assembly of God Church in Baxter with Pastor Mark Boone officiating. Interment with Military Honors will follow at the Baxter Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 29, 2011, from 5:30-8:30 PM, at the Heritage Assembly of God Church in Baxter, and one hour prior to the service on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, John and his family wish that memorials be sent to Brainerd Teen Challenge (2424 Business 371 - Brainerd, MN 56401).