John Richard Eblen

Memorial services for John Eblen, of Morris, Minnesota, will be held Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Morris, with Reverend Dan Belgum officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be at Chokio Lutheran Cemetery at a later date.

John “Johnny” Richard Eblen, son of Leo and Mary (Rasmussen) Eblen, was born September 30, 1930 on the family farm near Benson, Minnesota.  When John was eight years old, the family moved to a farm near Hoffman, Minnesota, where he attended country school through the eighth grade.  Following his schooling, he helped on the family farm before enlisting in the United States Navy.  John served during the Korean War from 1951-1954 on the USS Oriskany.  He was honorably discharged in 1958.  He was united in marriage to Marie Collins on January 28, 1959 in Chokio, Minnesota.  John and Marie lived on several farms in the area before making their home on a farm near Hancock, Minnesota, where they raised their two daughters: Sharon and Penny. John worked for Doug Koehl for 30 years until his retirement in 1992.  Shortly after his retirement, John and Marie moved to Morris where he worked part-time farming, mowing the golf course, other businesses, and for friends and neighbors.  Marie and John moved to West Central Homes in 2010, where he continued to live until the time of his death.

John was a member of First Lutheran Church and the Morris V.F.W. and American Legion.  He enjoyed word search puzzles, country music, and watching TV; especially westerns. John and Marie loved to travel, taking many trips with family, and several bus tours.  In his younger years, John loved to dance with his family, who had a dance band that traveled and performed in the neighboring communities.  Most of all, John cherished his time spent with his family.

John passed away Sunday, February 19, 2023 at the Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris.  He was 92 years old.

He is survived by his wife: Marie Eblen of Morris; two daughters: Sharon (Jim) Spencer of Brandon and Penny (Shāne) Hastings of Marshall; four grandchildren: Alicia (Ryan) Pfaff, Erica (Brad) Flatin, Mandi Mahoney and Dallas (Morgan) Mahoney; seven great-grandchildren: Olivia Pfaff, Brady Pfaff, Brooke Flatin, Emma Flatin, Willow Mahoney, Waverly Mahoney and River Mahoney; one brother: Gene (Eunice) Eblen of Hoffman and two sisters: Gracie Lewis of Alexandria and Dorothy Pillish of Roselle, IL.  He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Delbert, Daniel and Emmet Eblen and two sisters: Margaret Eblen and Joyce Kill.