John Garrit Polinder, Sr.

John G. Polinder, Sr., age 88, of Onamia, passed away Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 11 AM at Onamia Alliance Church in Onamia. Interment will follow at Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday.

There are some family members with floral allergies, so the family requests NO FLOWERS. If you do send something for the service it needs to be a green plant.

John Polinder, Sr. was born April 7, 1937 in Mudgett Township, Mille Lacs County, to Garrit and Helen (Starr) Polinder. He purchased his home and began farming there. John was married on April 24, 1964 to Sally Moilanen.

He had many jobs during his lifetime, he was a farmer at heart. He worked at Land O Lakes in Milaca until 1975. He then started working part-time at Milla Lacs Ag Service which turned into a full time job. In 1991, John went to work at Frigidaire in St. Cloud until he retired in 2002.

John enjoyed going to church with his family, drinking coffee, playing cards, visiting relatives, camping, fishing, hunting, and going out to eat. He enjoyed collecting John Deere memorabilia. He served on the Mudgett Township Board for over 20 years.

John passed away January 7, 2026 at the Aicota Nursing Home in Aitkin.

He is survived by his children, Deborah (Donald) Marthe from Emerado ND, Cecelia (Rory) Sarvela from Sturgeon Lake, MN, Edward (Bonnie) from Onamia, and John Jr. (Annie) from Onamia; sisters, Trynie Hanson and Alice Polinder and brothers, Gary and Earl Polinder.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Sally; daughter, Ranae; son, Larry; son-in-law, Richard Bork Sr.; grandson, Joshua Marthe; brother-in-law, Arnold Moilanen; parents, Garrit and Helen Polinder; his in-laws; Edward and Mayme Moilanen; brothers, Lyle, Paul, and Fred and sisters, Pearl, Dorothy and Louise.