John "Jack" DesRoches

On February 2, 2022, our Lord and Savior took John home to be with HIM. He struggled with Lewy Body Dementia for the last several years. He is free of pain and suffering but he will be missed by so many. John Amedee DesRoches, “Jack”, 80, was born in Bottineau, ND to Ernest, “Coin”, and Lillian (Lutovsky) DesRoches on 9-26-1941. He grew up and started school in St. John, ND. Then he attended school in Kramer, ND for the next five years, and graduated in 1959 from Sherwood, ND. He spent two years at Minot State College and graduated in 1966 from Valley City State College. On February 20, 1965, he married Diana Guderjahn from Rolla, ND at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bismarck, ND. From 1966-1969, Jack taught in McClusky, ND. The family then moved to Anoka/Andover, MN where he taught elementary Physical Education in the Anoka Hennepin District #11 until his retirement in 2001. Mr. D. loved teaching. He was well known as the Candy Man and for wearing track suits with his “17” pairs of tennis shoes. As a devout Catholic, God and his family were his top priorities, but he also loved Anoka Football and Wrestling; hunting, fishing, chopping wood and working on cars. He could do a brake job in his sleep. He would have given the shirt off his back. And let’s not forget his love for Diana’s cooking, his sweet tooth, good food and his many great friends and coworkers. Jack never missed an opportunity to support a concession stand!! Jack and Diana were blessed with six amazing children, and he is survived by them: Darnell (Dick) Fischer; Stacy (Rob) Laubscher; Lori (Peter) Harris, Marcie (Joe) Harrison, John and (Jenni Heilman) DesRoches, Derek and (Crystal Danley) DesRoches. He is also survived by grandchildren: Cole (Lauren) Harris and first great grandson George coming soon; Janae Harris; Graham and Hailey Laubscher; Carter and Rylee Harrison; Cameron and Hannah DesRoches. He is also survived by his sister, Elaine Prebonich, New Brighton, MN; brother, Ronald DesRoches, Minot, ND and nephews and nieces: Joleane (Mohamed) Khalifa, Lorn (Corrinna) DesRoches, Vern (Mar) DesRoches; Mark (Dawn) Prebonich, Kathy (Rich) Martonik; Doug (Vi) Wentz, Geri (Randy) Frohlich as well as several grandnieces and grandnephews and many cousins. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Coin and Lillian; an infant sister; brother-in-law, Bill Prebonich; sister-in-law, Sharon DesRoches; Diana’s parents, Vic and Mina Guderjahn; in-laws, Glenda and Leonard Wentz; Dale Guderjahn. Funeral Services will be held at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, 525 Jackson Street in Anoka on Friday, February 11, 2022, at 11:00 AM with visitation at 10:00 AM. Further visitation will be held at Thurston- Lindberg Funeral Home, 2005 Branch Avenue, Anoka from 5-8:00 PM on Thursday, February 10, 2022.