John Leroy Neslund

John Leroy Neslund passed away peacefully at the age of 95, surrounded by his loving family on December 5, 2025.

John was born November 16, 1930, on a farm in Apple River Township, Wisconsin, and grew up in Balsam Lake. Throughout his life, he shared wonderful and heartfelt stories about the days of his youth with his mom, dad, and siblings. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Innsbruck, Austria, during the Korean War. He had fond memories of teaching Sunday school during his service years there. He met the love of his life, Elvis, while they were both working in Balsam Lake. They were married in 1955 and spent the next 69 years building a life focused on their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends, and neighbors. At the center of it all was their deep faith in Jesus.

John was a steadfast source of comfort, love, and strength in all of our lives. He was always there to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. He was brilliant at fixing anything and making things better than they were before. His artistic talents amazed us. He was a self-taught painter, sculptor, woodworker, pianist, and organist. The talents he shared with us through his art were invaluable and will continue to bring us joy.

John is preceded in death by his wife, Elvis Neslund; parents, Hjalmar and Gertrude Neslund; and siblings, Albin (Doris) Neslund, Glen (Ruth) Neslund, Gordon (Ruby) Neslund, and Evelyn (Ray) Bailey.

John is survived by daughters Carol (Ray Bayers) Billstrom, Barbara (Jeff) Ferguson; grandchildren Steve Billstrom, Jenna (Adam) Zamjahn, Kelli (Tiago) Martins, Michael (Courtney) Ferguson, Leah Billstrom, Katelyn (Tucker) Lamski; great grandchildren, Gavin Zamjahn, Madelyn Gephart, Audrey Zamjahn, Griffin Zamjahn, Ariana Martins, Eliana Billstrom, along with one great grandchild on the way; sister-in-law Doris (Don) Olson and sister-in-law Ginny Sandstrom

Dad...we will miss you so much, but we know you are now reunited with mom and in the arms of our loving savior. We will hold in our hearts all the love we shared and all that you taught us. We love you beyond measure, always and forever.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, from 11:00 AM to noon at Roselawn Cemetery Chapel, 803 W. Larpenteur Ave., Roseville, MN 55113. The funeral service will follow the visitation at the same location, starting at noon.