John E. Keinanen

John Keinanen, 71, of Onalaska, Wisconsin, formerly of Cloquet and Esko, Minnesota, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Thursday, June 18, 2020, after a 7 month battle with Glioblastoma brain cancer.

He was born December 9, 1948, in Duluth, Minnesota, to Elmer and Ida Keinanen. He graduated from Esko High School in 1966 and from the University of MN Duluth with a double major in Math and Science in 1970. He later earned a Master’s degree in Education and also obtained a degree in school administration. He taught at Wrenshall (MN) High School for 34 years, and he was a candidate for Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 2003. Since moving to Wisconsin in 2008, John has worked as a substitute teacher in the Holmen, WI, and La Crescent, MN, school districts.

In 1971 he married Judy Matteson at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cloquet, MN. Shortly after their marriage, John was drafted into the US Army, where he served at Fort Bliss in El Paso, TX. Relationships were very important to John, the most important being that with his savior, Jesus Christ. Because Jesus was Lord of his life, it had a profound impact on his relationships with others. John had been an active member of Apostolic Lutheran Church in Esko, MN; St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Cloquet, MN; and in recent years, Christ is Lord Free Lutheran Church in Onalaska, WI. John has been involved with the Gideons International since 2008.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Judy; two daughters, Maria (Daniel) Higgins of Galesville, WI; and Mandy (David) Tschida of Andover, MN; one son, Daniel (Kelly) Keinanen of Onalaska, WI; 11 grandchildren: Sam, Onalee, Isaiah, Maggie and Nora Higgins; Ben and Lila Tschida; and Teemu, Mikko, Adlyn and Eilis Keinanen; one sister, Helen (Bill) Kinnunen of Esko, MN; one brother, Arvo (Kathy) Keinanen also of Esko; one niece, two nephews, and several cousins.

John will be laid to rest with military honors on Wednesday, June 24, at 1:00, in Esko, MN, at the Apostolic Lutheran Church cemetery.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Christ is Lord Free Lutheran Church in Onalaska at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Gideons International.