John Jay Foede

John Jay Foede, loving husband to Nada (married May 6, 1967), and loving father to their daughters, Kaarin K. Foede (husband Ron Middendorf) and Susan M. Weinberger (husband Tom Weinberger), died Friday, May 2, 2025, surrounded by the people dear to him. He was born April 28, 1944 in Alliance Nebraska to Edwin and Lauretta Foede, and is survived by his wife, daughters, sister, Dorothy Heinonen, and the family he married into and treasured.

Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00pm on May 9, 2025 at Northview- North Mankato Mortuary. Funeral Service will be held 11:00am on May 10, 2025 at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Mankato with visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Good Thunder. Memorials are preferred to Mt. Olive Lutheran School in Mankato. 

John graduated from Milaca High School in 1962 and subsequently graduated from the St. Cloud Area Vocational Technical School. His intention to earn his engineering degree from the University of Minnesota was thwarted by an untimely memory lapse (forgetting the Pythagorean Theorem “which I knew as well as my own name!”) and a fire that destroyed his Technical College records. Never one to give up on a goal, he became a lifelong learner and took every educational class offered and read every trade magazine, article, off-chance periodical, etc. to further his knowledge. He began his career at Kato Engineering in North Mankato in 1964 and remained there in various positions until his retirement in 2006. He was always willing to share his time, knowledge and experience, and became an enduring mentor to anyone who approached him for help, both professionally and personally.

He was active in his family life, church and community and particularly liked helping young families in their home projects while enjoying the children who wandered in and out of the project areas. He lamented that the world’s off-beat characters were becoming “too homogenized” and was a magnet for the remaining characters (probably because they were kindred spirits). He and Nada wintered in Arizona at their desert property (Runamok) for many years which they enjoyed sharing with friends and family. John loved meeting people from all parts of the globe and all walks of life and learning of their experiences and insights.

John loved to travel and visited many parts of the world, but treasured traveling the US with his family. Combining his three loves – spending time with his wife Nada, seeing the country, and driving a fun car, he owned various little “rag top” sports cars he and Nada traveled the country in. When he turned 75, he bought a Cobra Kit Replica which he built in his toy shed and enjoyed every challenge, success, and aspect of the build. He loved music in almost any form, and was particularly fond of hymns at church (the Royal Scotts Dragoons bagpipes playing Amazing Grace was a special favorite, even if that version wasn’t heard in a regular service). He treasured his family and long-time friends but was always happy to include someone new to the circle. Children were particularly important to him and he taught many to ride ponies at their hobby farm (Foede’s Folly) and later to fish off the dock or pontoon at their home on Lake Jefferson, always willing to bait hooks and congratulate them on catching scrappy little pan fish. His sense of curiosity, his humor, and his interest in others made him a magnet to kids of all ages. Blessed be his memory.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Area Funeral Homes.

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