John Walter LaVenture

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Gertrude (Ebert) LaVenture, and his wife of 46 years, Linda LaVenture.

John was a loving father to Michele Brinkhaus (Jeff), Michael “Myke” LaVenture (Kara), and Jaime Jorgensen (Dan), and a proud grandpa to Jack and Riley Brinkhaus; MiKenna, Cayden, and Karter LaVenture; and Lucy and Maxwell Jorgensen.

He is survived by his sister, Nancy Tomhave; beloved and cherished partner, Linda Pearson; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

John’s life will be celebrated on Monday, September 8, 2025. Visitation will be held from 10:00–11:30 a.m. at Woodbury Lutheran Church, 7380 Afton Road, Woodbury, MN 55125, followed by a funeral service at 11:30 a.m.

John’s funeral will also be live streamed on Funeral.WLC.church

A Life Well Loved: The Story of John LaVenture

John was born on March 21, 1943, to Walter and Gertrude LaVenture. As the youngest of two children, he completed their family. His older sister Nancy was always a big part of John’s life. From an early age, Nancy and John were inseparable, sharing countless childhood memories together. John was the first to hit a home run at the Parkway Little League fields on 3rd Street, a story he loved retelling with pride and laughter—he swore to this day it was still the longest ball ever hit there. Their father, Walter, spent hours helping build and create that same baseball complex, which became a cornerstone of the community. Beyond baseball, John and Nancy spent hours talking about flowers, trips to Gertens, and what they should plant each year. Those conversations meant the world to Nancy. One of their most memorable moments was an unforgettable Christmas trip to Key West. John and his family flew there to spend the holiday with Nancy and Bob, where they shared many laughs and created lasting memories.

John grew up on the east side of St. Paul and graduated from Concordia High School in 1961. John loved playing sports, especially baseball and basketball, and later in life Men’s Slow Pitch Softball and golf with friends he remained close with throughout his entire life. He had a competitive spirit but also a love for the friendships and camaraderie that sports brought into his life.

After high school, John started his career at the 3M East Side Tape Plant located on Bush Avenue. There, he began as a young man eager to learn, quickly earning the respect of his co-workers for his strong work ethic and loyalty. He often recalled the early days of punching the time clock, building friendships on the line, and learning the ropes from seasoned employees who became mentors. He spent most of his career at the St. Paul location before moving to the Chemolite Plant in Cottage Grove, MN, where he retired with 42 years of service. John was extremely proud to work for 3M and often said that the company helped him provide for his family in every way. Even years after retirement, he still made trips to the 3M company store, always walking away with a new story or bargain to share.

John met Linda at Eastern Heights Lutheran Church, and their first date was a “Walther League” meeting there. John liked to say he “needed someone to go with, and she volunteered.” The two often spent time together at “Burns and 61, at the lookout parking lot.” John and Linda were married on May 6, 1967, and shared 46 wonderful years together before being separated on earth on May 30, 2013, when Linda made her journey to Heaven

John was a proud father of three. His first, Michele, instantly captured his heart as his little girl, and their bond remained strong throughout his life. Not long after, Myke was born, bringing him the joy of having a son to share his love of sports with. Six years later, Jaime arrived, completing the LaVenture family of five. She was his favorite—just kidding, they were all his favorite!

Around that same time, John and Linda built their first home in Woodbury, MN, where John lived until August 2024. Raising their family on Richal Drive created decades of memories—neighborhood cookouts, backyard bonfires, and having the neighbors over for coffee and sweets (cookies were his favorite!). The Richal neighbors became more than friends; they became extended family. John took great pride in owning that home for 50 years, a milestone he considered one of his greatest accomplishments, symbolizing the stability and love he worked so hard to give his family.

John and Linda were very involved at Woodbury Lutheran Church, where they taught Sunday School, John sang in the choir, and together they poured their hearts into the congregation they loved so dearly. They also shared other hobbies such as bowling, square dancing, and any activity with their friends including card night. After the kids sports wrapped up, John enjoyed being back on the field coaching men’s slow-pitch softball with his brother-in-law, Bob Tomhave, and other close friends.

After retiring from 3M, John and Linda bought a lake place in Lindstrom, MN, where they spent many summer weeks enjoying the outdoors and fishing from their pontoon on North Center Lake. Later, given Linda’s love of travel, they sold the cabin and purchased an Class A RV to spend winters down south. Their “snowbird” destination was southern Texas, where they made many lifelong friends. They even joined the Good Sams Camping Group, finding a community of people who shared their love for the RV lifestyle.

John also had a passion for his yard. He found joy in being outside, planting flowers, and riding his lawn mower —sometimes even taking it for a spin around the block just for fun. He was an avid Minnesota sports fan, faithfully watching or listening to games on the radio—whether it was the Twins, Vikings, Wild, Timberwolves or Gophers, he cheered for them all. He also enjoyed golf and often played with friends at Afton Alps Golf Course.

John had a big heart for animals, especially dogs. Over the years, many furry family members were part of the LaVenture household. John and Linda even rescued a dog from Texas named Kirby, who quickly became his favorite buddy. In 2024, John surprised everyone by becoming a cat person when he welcomed Pumpkin into his home. At first unsure, John grew so close to Pumpkin that the cat often curled up to sleep by his head.

In 2014, John met Linda Pearson. Their story began unexpectedly on a dating app after both had lost their beloved spouses. Being the extrovert that he was, John reached out first, and they met nervously at a Perkins in Maplewood, MN. From that day forward, their companionship grew into a meaningful relationship. They enjoyed simple pleasures—movies, casino trips, tending to the yard together, cheering on the grandkids, and just being side-by-side. Linda often said John was her sounding board and her safe place, always ready with advice, encouragement, or just an ear to listen. He even helped her find her home, which she considered one of his many lasting gifts to her. Linda carries forward not only the memories of their time together but also his beloved cat, Pumpkin, who now keeps her company and feels like a piece of John still by her side.

One of John’s greatest joys was supporting his seven grandchildren. From oldest to youngest, he always had a genuine interest in their lives. From early on, he watched MiKenna ride horses all over the U.S. and Canada via live stream, cheered at dance and basketball games, and went to Cayden and Karter’s basketball and football games—tracking their stats and offering coaching tips whenever he could. He loved that Jack and Riley shared his passion for golf and found joy in razzing them about their games. He also enjoyed attending Lucy’s tee ball games and theater productions and never missed an opportunity to wear his “I love Lucy” t-shirt. Even though he couldn’t be at Max’s baseball, soccer, basketball or flag football games in person, he always made sure to call and ask how they went.

As his family reflects on John’s life, there are countless reasons to love him. His wit, sarcasm, and humor brought smiles to so many. John had a gift for connecting with people—whether it was the mail carrier, a pharmacist, a server, a banker, or even someone at the AT&T store—he always found time for a chat or a bit of friendly banter. From his early days on Richal Drive until his last, John was always ready with a smile and a story, whether with neighbors or with complete strangers.

As his earthly days drew near, his family surrounded him with love, memories, laughter, and tears—knowing that togetherness alone brought him peace. A special thank you goes to the incredible care team at Vivie, who walked alongside John and his family during his final year. Their compassion, patience, and kindness made an immeasurable difference during this season of life, and his family will always be grateful.