John L. Sloan

Tuesday, June 23, 2015 2:35 pm

John L. Sloan, 81, of Stewartville, Minn., formerly of Waucoma, died Saturday, June 20, 2015, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. A memorial mass is at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 23, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Waucoma, with Rev. Nick March celebrating the Mass. Friends may greet the family an hour prior to the Mass at church. Arrangements are with Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in Waucoma.  Online condolences for John’s family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com.

John (Jack) L. Sloan was born in Fairbank Feb. 18, 1934, to Leo and Fidellis (Woods) Sloan of Waucoma. He was raised on the family farm in rural Waucoma and attended the Waucoma Public School, graduating in 1951. John worked at the Alpha Rendering Plant from 1952 until early 1953 and with Carlson Construction in 1953 until joining the army. He enlisted in the United States Army where he served in the 6th Armored Division in Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. and Germany and was later appointed to the NCO academy in Fort Brag, N.C. until his honorable discharged in 1956. After his military service, he worked on the family farm and hauled livestock for Ed Lynch. John married Magdalene (Maggie) Mashek Feb. 14, 1957. They lived in Waucoma, where they raised their two daughters and two sons. In 1961, he was appointed and served as postmaster at the Waucoma Post Office until his retirement in October 1992. In 1963 John became an insurance agent and started Sloan Insurance Agency. During the ‘60s and early ‘70s, John worked evenings at Meinertz Creamery in Fredericksburg. During that time, he also worked weekends at the Waucoma creamery and was an award-winning butter maker. He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Waucoma American Legion Post. In his later years, John enjoyed spending time with family, fishing, playing cards and debating politics.

John is survived by his loving wife Maggie, of 58 years; his children: Sharon (Barry) Downes/Anderson of Las Vegas Nev., Diane (Mark) Kubeja of Sugarloaf Calif., John (Roxanne) Sloan of Atkins and Thomas (Brenda) Sloan of Stewartville Minn.; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren; one brother, David (Bernie) Sloan of Scottsdale, Ariz.; three sisters: Geri Bodensteiner of Osage, Ruth (John) Neuzil of Charles City and Jane (Leo) Huber of Davenport.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Fidellis (Woods) Sloan; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Adolf and Mae (Riehle) Mashek; his sister- and brother-in-law Mary (Edmond) Hauer; one brother, Allen Sloan; and one brother-in-law, Richard Bodensteiner.