John Gene Morrow, “GIINIW”, which means Golden Eagle, age 66, of Bemidji, began his spiritual journey on Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at his home with his family by his side. John was born on June 4, 1952 in Cass Lake, the son of Arthur and Mary (Mitchell) Morrow. John grew up in Cass Lake, then moved to attend school in Boys Town, NE.
From there he attended Brigham Young University in Utah, before returning to Minneapolis where he worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He moved to Bemidji and attended Bemidji State University. John was a consultant for Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and helped with a lot of grant writing.
Some of the many things he accomplished were the Executive Director at RTC, Dean of Students for the Leech Lake Tribal College eventually becoming president and making the Leech Lake Tribal College an accredited college. He was also an active member of the DFL party and he sat on the ACLU board as Chairman. John was a smart, humorous, kind man who loved people.
He had various interests. He enjoyed being an outdoorsman, reading, traveling old country roads, and carpentry work. He even helped build the Grand Casino Hotel in Mille Lacs.
John enjoyed photography and used his passion as photographer and editor of the Debahjimon Newspaper in Cass Lake. He was an avid golfer who claimed he could beat anyone. John never looked down on anyone and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
The family that John joins again are his parents, Arthur and Mary; sister, Ardith Morrow; brothers, Richard Kaiser, Timothy Foreman, Clifton Morrow, Arthur Morrow, Jr. and Steve Morrow. The family he leaves behind to cherish his memory are his daughters, Sonni (Gordon) Simons of Bemidji, Danielle (Kirby) Morrow of Cass Lake, and Julia (Chris) Simons of Shakopee; brother, George (Wally) Rea; sisters, Marlene Poukka, Jane (Darryl) Bruce, Maria (Gary) Rea, Tracy (Ken) Morrow, Victoria Reich, Jackie Morrow, Roberta Morrow, and Elaine (Joe) Rea; grandchildren, Jeremy Morrow, Caleb Olson, Daniel Olson, Charles Leith, Luanndra Graves, Valerie Leith, Terra Matta and Natessa Morrison. A wake for John will begin at 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 15, 2019 and will continue until the traditional service at 11:00 a.m., Sunday, February 17, all held at the Facility Center in Cass Lake.
Allen Hardy will be the spiritual leader. Pallbearers for John will be Keith St. Cyr, George Rea, Daniel Olson, Gordon Graves, Vincent Morris and Rupert Olson. Honorary pallbearers will be Marlene Poukka, Jane Bruce, Maria Rea, Tracy Morrow, Victoria Reich and Jackie Morrow.
Interment will be in the Boy Lake Cemetery in Boy River. John’s care has been entrusted to the Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be given at www.
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