John David Anfinsen

Passed away on Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Born on February 7, 1938, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the second youngest to Arthur Morris and Violet Anfinsen, and brother to Gloria, Arthur Jr., and Mary.

John graduated from Lake Minnetonka High School in 1956, attended the University of Minnesota, and served as an Airman with AEWRON FIFTEEN (VW-15) in the United States Navy for seven years, receiving an honorable discharge.

John moved to South Florida in 1973 with Barbara Ann Resnick of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, and the two were married at Lauderdale by the Sea, July 7, 1973.

A certified building contractor in Florida, John Anfinsen worked in construction for over forty years. John began building homes in Boynton Beach for real estate mogul and businessman Harry T. Mangurian Jr., before working for E. Lloyd Ecclestone's Sr. & Jr., where he supervised homes throughout PGA National and Ibis. Anfinsen committed over twenty years of service to constructing luxury houses in Palm Beach Gardens for Robert H. Schottenstein with M/I Homes. John also served as the homeowner's association president in the Palm Beach Gardens community where he and his family lived for thirty-five years.

John Anfinsen loved going on adventures with his son and best friend, Jason. The pair traveled worldwide to Oslo, Malmö, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Munich, and Vienna. Together, John and Jason explored art museums and international art fairs across the globe. JA & JA rocked out at music festivals around the country, including Sasquatch in Spokane, Washington, Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee, and Sunfest in West Palm Beach, Florida.

John and his wife Barbara also went on many memorable trips together. They attended dozens of rock concerts, witnessing everyone from Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, Chicago, and The Moody Blues. The two enjoyed going on cruises to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Nassau, Bahamas, and shared many happy hours in Sarasota and the Florida Keys.

While John loved all professional sports teams from Minnesota (Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves), he became a true Floridian. Anfinsen loved NASCAR and watching races live at Homestead-Miami Speedway or Daytona International Speedway. John loved fishing, watching the boats travel in and out of the Intracoastal at DuBois Park in Jupiter, and scouring beaches across the sunshine state for coins and other treasures with his many metal detectors.

John Anfinsen was a creator, facilitator, and inventor who could fix any issue and solve every problem. He was always kind, kept a positive attitude, and he never, ever complained. John was our Daddy, and we will always love him so incredibly much.

John Anfinsen is survived by his devoted wife of almost 48 years, Barbara, and his boy-z, Jason. John has now left this world to start a new adventure elsewhere. Anfinsen's final resting place will be at the South Florida National Cemetery for veterans in Lake Worth, Florida.

On Monday, June 7, 2021, a ceremony will occur at 1:30 p.m. at the South Florida National Cemetery, 6501 FL-7, Lake Worth, FL 33449. https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/southflorida.asp