Obituary for John Peter Weinard Jr.
John P. Weinard, Jr. died at home on December 18, 2020 of renal cancer.
Born in Minneapolis on June 10, 1939 to John P. Weinard, Sr. and Margaret Vonn Weinard. John lived in Rochester MN, Chester PA; and Chicago IL as a child. He returned in 1946 to his birth city and grew up in St. Louis Park. He was confirmed in St. Luke Lutheran Church in that city, and graduated from its high school in 1957. After a brief hiatus he was drafted into the Army. Turning down chances to enter Officer Candidate School or Counter Intelligence work, he finished in 1964 after 19 months, enough to become eligible for GI Bill college funds.
John began a career rooted in computer programming and moved into accounting (B.A. Augsburg College, 1968). He branched into law and earned a J.D. in 1973 from William Mitchell College of Law. Like his classmates, he worked fulltime and attended school at night, graduating after four years. After eighteen months in general practice, he joined Art Seifert’s workers’ compensation practice in 1975 and continued representing the injured worker until he retired in 1997.
John was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Martha Gisselquist. He leaves an extended family: brother Bruce (Virginia); sisters Susan (Fritz Hanus) and Sandy (Wayne Johnson) and numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
John was quiet but engaged with the world, with a special interest in public policy and politics. He volunteered through Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd with Habitat for Humanity, Urban Homeworks, Meals on Wheels, Loaves and Fishes and others. He was a volunteer bike repair guy in his winter home in Destin FL, where most of the clients were homeless men whose bike was their only transportation. “I just like to fix bikes” was his reason.
John had the qualities that make an exceptional person: loyalty to friends and family, hard work, and compassion for those less fortunate whether as a lawyer or a volunteer. He lived modestly. He faced the future realistically but philosophically. He leaves family, friends, neighbors, and probably some strangers, with lasting, fond, admiring memories.
Born in Minneapolis on June 10, 1939 to John P. Weinard, Sr. and Margaret Vonn Weinard. John lived in Rochester MN, Chester PA; and Chicago IL as a child. He returned in 1946 to his birth city and grew up in St. Louis Park. He was confirmed in St. Luke Lutheran Church in that city, and graduated from its high school in 1957. After a brief hiatus he was drafted into the Army. Turning down chances to enter Officer Candidate School or Counter Intelligence work, he finished in 1964 after 19 months, enough to become eligible for GI Bill college funds.
John began a career rooted in computer programming and moved into accounting (B.A. Augsburg College, 1968). He branched into law and earned a J.D. in 1973 from William Mitchell College of Law. Like his classmates, he worked fulltime and attended school at night, graduating after four years. After eighteen months in general practice, he joined Art Seifert’s workers’ compensation practice in 1975 and continued representing the injured worker until he retired in 1997.
John was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Martha Gisselquist. He leaves an extended family: brother Bruce (Virginia); sisters Susan (Fritz Hanus) and Sandy (Wayne Johnson) and numerous nieces, nephews, and in-laws.
John was quiet but engaged with the world, with a special interest in public policy and politics. He volunteered through Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd with Habitat for Humanity, Urban Homeworks, Meals on Wheels, Loaves and Fishes and others. He was a volunteer bike repair guy in his winter home in Destin FL, where most of the clients were homeless men whose bike was their only transportation. “I just like to fix bikes” was his reason.
John had the qualities that make an exceptional person: loyalty to friends and family, hard work, and compassion for those less fortunate whether as a lawyer or a volunteer. He lived modestly. He faced the future realistically but philosophically. He leaves family, friends, neighbors, and probably some strangers, with lasting, fond, admiring memories.