John "Jack" Silker

John (Jack) Silker, 88, of Baxter, MN passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday evening, April 30, 2019. Memorial service for Jack will be  at 11:00AM, Friday, May 10, 2019 at First Congregational Church in Fairmont, MN, with a lunch served after the service. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

John Bruce Silker was born July 17, 1930 in Minneapolis, MN, the son of John and Emma Silker. Jack graduated from Fairmont High School in 1948. In September 1948, Jack was united in marriage to Joan Harris and they resided in Fairmont, MN until her death in 1961. They were blessed with five children. On October 17, 1964, Jack was united in marriage to Peggy Huffman and together raised two sons. Jack started as a teenager working in the Coast to Coast store with his father in the 1940’s and in 1950 began purchasing partial ownership. In 1968, he had full ownership. Jack established Midwest Sports Center in Fairmont before his retirement to Brainerd in 1978. Jack and Peggy then purchased Caribou Lodge in Canada where he enjoyed flying his float plane. With his wife Peggy, they established Silker’s Sportswear, operating that for 18 years in Merrifield, MN. Jack loved the outdoors and enjoyed archery, water skiing, boating, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, racing and flying.

Left to cherish his memory  are his wife, Peggy; children, Teresa (Rick) Stratton, Susan (Jamie) Smith, Jeffrey (Karen) Silker, Neil (Sue) Silker, Kathy (Randy) Strauser, Michael Silker and Chad (Jamie) Silker; brother, Glen (Sue) Silker; sister, Joyce Gilbertson; brother in law, Brian Huffman; sister in laws, Wendy (Dallas) Becker, Bonnie Walser, Nancy (Dick) Lobb, Wanda Ganske and fishing buddy, Lon (Marilyn) Oelke; 23 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John and Emma Silker; his wife, Joan; sister and brother in law, Jane and Louis Lombardo; brother in laws, Jim Gilbertson, Duane Walser; mother and father in law, Lloyd and Esther Huffman; brother in laws Larry (Gloria) and Perry Huffman; mother and father in law, Philo (Pete) and Pearl Harris; brothers and sisters in law, Art and Neva Kost, Perry and LaVonne Harris; brother in law, Dale Ganske; and his lifelong friend, Floyd Buckmeier. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Martin County animal shelter, St. Croix hospice, Brainerd, MN or First Baptist Church, Baxter, MN.

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