John Wilmer Woestehoff
John Wilmer Woestehoff, age 81, went to his Heavenly home on October 12, 2025. A funeral
service for John will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Belle
Plaine at 2:00 pm. Visitation will be 3 – 7 pm at Kolden Funeral Home in Belle Plaine on
Saturday, October 18, 2025, and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church. Interment
will be at Redeemer Lutheran Cemetery in Henderson following the service.
John Wilmer Woestehoff was born on April 6, 1944, to Wilmer John and Evelyn (Koepp)
Woestehoff in Le Sueur, MN. John was baptized at Redeemer Lutheran Church in rural
Henderson and was a lifetime and active member. John graduated from Le Sueur High School
in 1962 and went on to receive a four year degree in Agriculture Business in 1966 from the
University of Minnesota – St. Paul Campus. While in college, John met Dorothy Karlstad, and
they married in her hometown of Arlington, SD, in 1968. This union was blessed with three
children: David, Pamela, and Kevin.
The farm life gave John immense joy. He was a fourth-generation farmer. He farmed through
2017 and continued to help out following “retirement.” Driving equipment came easy for him and
a co-worker once said, “John runs the combine like it’s an extension of his own hand.” Planting,
harvesting, and driving semi were tasks that were especially fun for him. He put on more than
800,000 miles on his last semi nicknamed, “The Creampuff.”
John served in the army reserves for six years.
John loved farming, but he loved being a husband, a father, a grandpa, and a Child of God even
more.
John and Dorothy provided a home for their family that was rich in love. Daily meals together
were a time to reflect and plan. John enjoyed taking his family on vacations, out to eat, fishing,
bowling, hunting, to church, BBQ days, Valley Fair, and he included them in farm life. John
added education into all moments. He made it known that some things in life are “non-
negotiables” and had clear expectations that the right choices would be made.
“Grandpa John” loved and bragged about each of his seven grandkids. He was hands on and
would get down on the floor with the kids and engage in the fun. The stoic German did not hold
back on love and kisses for the grandkids.
John’s biggest hardship in life was losing his wife, Dorothy, in 2011. John was as caring and
attentive as any human could be while Dorothy battled ovarian cancer for six months. John and
Dorothy were a well matched couple and their love and commitment never wavered.
John enjoyed socializing. For years, he enjoyed playing cards, pitching horseshoes, and
bowling with friends. During league bowling in 2012 he bowled a perfect 300 game. John
enjoyed reading and studying the grain markets. He enjoyed meeting new people. He could
strike up a conversation with anyone. His last years of life included looking forward to Friday
card playing which was organized by Cousin Ralph’s dedicated nieces.
Lewy body dementia was not kind to John; however, throughout his years of battling this
disease, he never forgot God or his church. When he could no longer go to church the last
couple years, he would listen to radio and tv church services on Sunday and then still quiz his
family on what they learned while they were at church. During end of life when John was barely
speaking, he would burst into Christian songs with gusto or eloquently verbalize self-made
prayers to help him through difficult times. One of the last things he silently spoke while finishing
his time here on earth was, “Life is good.”
John is survived by his children Dave (Krista) Woestehoff of Belle Plaine, Pam (Dave) Weiers of
Henderson, and Kevin (Sally) Woestehoff of Farmington. Grandchildren: Kayla (Dawid) Scholtz,
Evan Weiers, Christopher (fiancée Taylor Menth), Michael, Isaac, Lindsey, Luke Woestehoff.
Sisters: Dollis (Roger) Harris, Phyllis Martin, Marlys (Mark) Brandell; and Dorothy’s brothers:
Richard (Linda) Karlstad, Donald (Julie) Karlstad.
John joined his wife, parents, and brother- in- law (Larry Martin) in Heaven.
Thanks be to God for the life of John.
