John Davenport

John Merwin (Jack, Deke, Johnny, Mr. Davenport) Davenport, age 88, of Shorewood (formerly of Minnetonka), passed away peacefully on 6/10/2025 with his family by his side.
John was born in 1936 on Chicago's South Side near the University of Chicago. His maternal grandparents lived next door and Milton Friedman, the economist, was a neighbor.
The family moved to a suburban home in Winnetka on the north of the city when John was 2 years old. He attended The Greeley School for elementary grades. The school was named for Samuel Sewall Greeley, a citizen of the community who had promoted its establishment. In Mr. Greeley's dedication speech he emphasized the importance of a good teacher who could reach out to their students "heart to heart, mind to mind" and stated "Good teachers come high, but, believe me, no other stock on the list will pay such dividends." Well, John eventually went into teaching and, those dividends were abundant! In 1954 he graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka.
During high school he spent summers attending Camp Manito-wish YMCA in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin. He continued with summer camp during his college years as a counselor at Red Arrow Camp in Woodruff, Wisconsin.
He chose Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota for his undergraduate studies in History. A choice he never regretted once. He remained in Minnesota the rest of his life and was a life-long supporter of the college. He made lasting friendships there that meant the world to him. After he was married he went on to pursue a Masters degree in Education from Northwestern University while he and Liz spent a summer living in the Chicago area not far from his parent's home.
Many of John's travels to Wisconsin and Minnesota were made by train, and he went on to become a historian of all things train related – he knew their routes, schedules, which railway operated them, and he was particularly fascinated by the Circus trains run by the Ringling Brothers in Baraboo, Wisconsin – the home of his father, John R.
In the fall of 1958 he was hired to be a teacher at the new Minnetonka High School a place where he made many more life-long friends.
In 1960, there was a grocery store at Christmas Lake Road and Highway 7. The grocer and his wife knew both John and a special young lady, named Liz Tallakson, as patrons of their store. The grocer convinced John to call the Tallakson home on Vine Hill Road and ask Liz out on a blind date. It worked! They attended an MHS hockey game. They attended the game sitting with several faculty wives imagine that on a first date!! The two were married in 1961 and were joined by their dog, Cinder, a wedding gift. They honeymooned in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin near the camps that he had spent so much time at. In 1962, they built a new home in a corn field near Glen Lake that became 5500 Holiday Road. Their 1st child, Jeffrey, was born in 1963. That grocer and his wife were among the first to visit the hospital to check on Liz and little Jeffrey. In 1966, their 2nd child, Karen, was born.
Many years later John and Liz were excited when the family grew to include two grandsons, Jason in 2003 and Colton in 2006. Many happy play days were spent together at Holiday Road, Deephaven, Gasparilla Island, and the Brainerd Lakes Area. Being PaPa to "his boys" was one of his greatest joys in life.
During his summers off while teaching, John worked at the Tallakson Family Christmas Tree Farm alongside the Judge. During those times he learned vast amounts of Tallakson family history as well as many stories from the Judge's storied career.
John left teaching in 1978 to explore an opportunity with the legislature at the State of Minnesota. That turned into a 10 year experience that enriched his life in many ways. Particularly the friends he made. When he retired in 1989 he proclaimed that he always wanted to be a bank teller. So, he applied at USBank and went through their training and worked in the bank branch close to home he knew so many of the customers and visited with everyone.
In 1986, for their 25th wedding anniversary, they went on an Alaskan cruise which included trips to Vancouver and White Horse. And, for nearly 25 years, they spent time on Gasparilla Island, Florida during the month of March.
John and Liz's love of dogs continued after Cinder with Tippy who joined the family in 1969 when he and his litter mates were rescued. Tippy's sister, Freckles, ended up living next door on Holiday Road. Later, John and Liz acquired an adorable Pomeranian named Tuffy. And, during their last years they loved having visits from their grand-dog Carla.
John's interest in history permeated his personal intrigue with genealogy. He was an avid and astute keeper of memories and family history. These are treasures we can only hope to retain well enough, in full context, to pass along for the younger generations to appreciate. There are no doubts he is being welcomed in heaven by Liz and all his other family, friends and four-leggeds, and is sharing his stories with a new and amazing perspective.
Preceded in death by wife of 61 years, Elizabeth; parents, John R. and Martha Davenport; brother, Robert Davenport; parents-in-law, Judge Thomas and Dorothy Tallakson; brother-in-law, Tom Tallakson; sister-in-law, Janet Tallakson. Survived by children, Jeff (Cathy) and Karen; grandchildren, Jason and Colton; grand-dog, Carla; brother, David Davenport; nephews, nieces, cousin, many extended family and dear friends. Visitation on Tuesday, July 1 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, with a brief time for blessings and prayers at 11:45 at the David Lee Funeral Home, 1220 East Wayzata Boulevard, Wayzata. Interment at Lakewood Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials suggested to the MN Landscape Arboretum, Minnetonka Alumni Association, or a cause dear to you.
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