John Thomas Wosepka, age 72, of Alexandria, Minnesota passed away peacefully on July 4, 2018 surrounded by family. John was raised in the North Dakota prairie town of Golva as the first child of Kenneth and Marian Wosepka. His first years of education came in a one-room schoolhouse.
He graduated from high school in 1964 at the top of his class (of seven). An athlete, he played on the baseball team and despite barely cracking 5’ 9’’ tall, was a five-year starter on the basketball team. John went on to study business education and accounting at Dickinson State College.
He was the class president his junior and senior years. While at Dickinson State, he was an active member of the TKE fraternity, making lifelong friendships. It was in college where he met the love of his life, Rosalie Berger, marrying her on August 24, 1968.
John and Rosalie went on to have three children: Kent Wosepka, Jonalie Korengold (Michael) and Marc Wosepka (Maureen). John spent the majority of his working life as a banker. First in Dickinson, then Webster, South Dakota; Crookston, Minnesota; Washburn, Wisconsin and Alexandria, Minnesota where he was the president of Bremer Bank.
He retired from banking as the chief operating officer of Bremer Corporation. While respected for his financial judgement, he will be most remembered for the relationships he forged among colleagues and community. John was a lifelong (suffering) Vikings, Gophers and Twins fan.
If you were looking for John on a Tuesday afternoon, he was almost certainly part of a foursome on the golf course (perhaps in the rough). His golfing capstone was winning the Green Jacket Championship at the Alexandria Country Club with his buddy Denis Melby. John gave back time, effort and heart to community and Catholic organizations his whole life.
He was a board member of the Wedum Foundation, Rotary, the Alexandria Technical College, United Way, Cathedral Parish Council, Dollars for Scholars, and the Jaycees, an organization which named him one of the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans in 1980. In May, 2018, John was honored by the Alexandria Area Community Foundation for his years of work helping to make Alexandria a great place to live. John loved to travel and bike with Rosalie, but one of his less well known pursuits was rollerblading.
Whether back roads in Alexandria or paths along the Mississippi River in St. Paul, John could be found tearing them up on his skates. John will be missed for his broad smile, his easy going nature, his generosity and his unfailing kindness. In addition to his immediate family, John is survived by his mother Marian; siblings Linda Filkowski (Larry), MaryAnn Schillo (Jim), Jim Wosepka (Peggy), Diane Pommerer, Joanne Vandal, Susan Zier (Mike), Paula Martin (Bill), Ken Wosepka (Sarah), and Tom Wosepka (Kelly); and grandchildren Jack, Rose, Connor, Maya, Erin, Kate, Gainsley and Ben.
John was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth. John’s family would like to recognize and thank the staff at the Alton Memory Care center for their compassionate care over the last 15 months. In particular, Veronica, Hayat, Joan, Stella, Sheila, Laurlinda, Hannah, Tesfye, Viniky, Gerri, Anne, Leul, Elizabeth, and Semhar.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials in John’s name to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at www. lbda.org or the Alexandria Technical and Community College at www. alextech.
edu.
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