John W. Gould

John was born in West Duluth on October 30, 1916 to Willis and Elizabeth Gould, who already had three daughters. He attended Ely and Denfeld Schools, was in the C.C.C., and worked in the shipyards during W.W.II. John married Margaret M. Panger on July 18, 1939, and they went on to bring three sons and two daughters into the world. They raised their family on a Jackson Project “hobby farm” in Hermantown.

John found lasting work as a union driver for a contract carrier delivering oxygen and acetylene cylinders. When the company unexpectedly lost their contract, John became a successful entrepreneur starting a trenching service, an automotive service, the area’s first go-cart track and he even moved his family to Michigan for a brief time to learn the heating and sheet metal business from a relative.

Upon returning to Duluth, they re-established themselves in Hermantown by building a home on Stebner Road. Then ultimately, John and Margaret opened the Hastee Tastee Restaurant, where they made many lasting friendships. John also drove school bus for Hermantown in conjunction with operating the restaurant. During the late 70’s John and Margaret sold the restaurant, John retired from bus driving, and they moved to their lake place on Rose Lake, in Cotton, where they enjoyed the company of family and friends, both summer and winter.

After a number of years on the lake, the decision was made to move to the city, where they bought a duplex just below the “antennae farm”. Margaret passed away in 2006 after a prolonged nursing home stay due to Alzheimers. John was able to spend his last days in his home thanks to in-home help from a few caring family members.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Margaret; sisters, Cora Easter, Mable Robison and Mildred Gould; and infant grandsons, John Robert Gould and Michael Willis Gould.

He is survived by children, Barbara (James) Melvin, of N. Chelmsford, MA, Michael (Donna) Gould, of Baldwin, WI, James Gould, of Duluth, Gerald (Bonnie) Gould of Waite Park, MN and Margaret “Peggy” (Richard) Olsen, of Pasco, WA; 13 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many special nieces and nephews.

Memorial service 2:00pm Friday, March 23rd in the Bell Brothers Funeral Chapel, 601 N. 56th Ave. W. Please leave a memory of John or words of support for the family at www.bellbrothersfuneralhome.com