John Joseph Amelse

Visitation and a funeral Mass for John Joseph Amelse will be held Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014, at Madonna Towers in Rochester. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 10:30 am, with the Mass following immediately at 10:30 a.m. Father Andrew Deitz and Father Jim Russell will concelebrate. The burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights at 3:15 pm.

Mr. Amelse, 78, of Rochester, died Friday, Nov. 21, 2014, at Saint Marys Hospital.

John was born April 22, 1936, in Eau Claire, Wis., to Adrian and Marie Amelse. John was raised on a farm near Fall Creek, Wis., with his 12 siblings. He attended St. Thomas College on a football scholarship and graduated in 1959. John had a long career in mortgage banking; he and a partner started Allied Mortgage in Des Moines, Iowa. During this time, he was awarded Mortgage Banker of the Year. John retired in 2001. John married Kathleen "Kay" Adamson on Dec. 28, 1957.

He was a loving father and husband who, along with Kay, raised eight children together. He enjoyed his large family, especially his 29 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. John liked to golf, fish and play cards. He gave generously of his time to charities. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, The Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, The Serra Club, and a board member of Catholic Charities. He and Kay also gave time to various fundraisers at Dowling High School and the parishes they belonged to over the years. Most importantly, John was a man of strong faith who never wavered in his beliefs; he passed this same faith to his entire family.

Survivors include his wife, Kay; his children, Mary Corrigan (Pat), Janice Hopfensberger (Dane), Michelle Deitz (Dave), Jeanine Wallner (Jim), Melissa Bares (Mike), John W. Amelse (Lauri), Megan Scheckel (Dan), and son-in-law, Russ Burg (Tasha); his brothers, Rich Amelse (Diane), Larry Amelse (Ginny) and Pete Amelse (Mary); 29 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Katie Burg, his parents, Adrian and Marie Amelse, his brothers and sisters, Tony Amelse, Casey Amelse, Rudy Amelse, Dorothy Yeager, Jane Amelse, Jerry Amelse, Eddie Amelse, Mary Ann Speckien and Liz Lewis.

Memorials are preferred to Catholic Charities or Madonna Towers of Rochester.

Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences are welcome at mackenfuneralhome.com.