John P. Calverley, 90, of Cloquet, Minn., died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2008, in Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet. He was born in 1918 in Byron, Minn., to Charles and Salome Calverley. He grew up in Ellendale and farmed there until moving to Mahtowa where he also farmed. John owned and operated the Mahtowa Market and grocery route for many years. He worked at Potlatch for 17 years until retiring in 1979. He married Ailie Rautio on May 4, 1974, in Nashua, Iowa. They lived on Sturgeon Lake for 20 years and moved to Cloquet in 2002. John was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Mahtowa. He enjoyed fishing at his home on Sturgeon Lake. He also enjoyed camping and traveling to Florida and Texas for the winters for more than 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his son, John "Jerry" Calverley; brothers, Charles and Victor; and sisters, Martha Wencl, and Gertrude Klemmensen.
John is survived by his wife, Ailie of Cloquet; children, Donald (Diane) Calverley of Cambridge, Judy (Kenneth) Olson of Carlton, Robert (Darla) Calverley of Mahtowa, Carol (Barry) Goodnature of Sturgeon Lake, Charles "Dale" (Sue) Calverley of Mahtowa, Bruce Calverley of Barnum, Brian (Bonita) Calverley of Mahtowa, and Brenda (Bruce) Stevens of Barnum; their mother, Borgny Agurkis of Barnum; brother, James (Laverne) Calverley of Albert Lea; sisters, Margaret Heidtke of Owatonna and Edith Connor of North Branch; brothers-in-law, Melvin (Sharon) Rautio of New York Mills and Oscar Rautio of Silverton, Ore.; sister-in-law, Alice Heikkila of Menahga; 23 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff at Community Memorial Hospital for the special care and compassion they gave to John and his family.
Visitation was held from 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, in Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet. Visitation continued Monday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service in Salem Lutheran Church in Mahtowa. Burial was in Mount Salem Cemetery in Mahtowa.
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Arrangements entrusted to Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet, 218-879-7184. To sign the guest book, see www.northlandfuneralhome.com .
November 13, 2008 ~ Pine Journal, Cloquet, Minn.
