John Stafford

John P. "Jack" Stafford, age 82, of Melrose, died Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at the Melrose Area Hospital.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 30 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Interment will follow at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service on Monday at the funeral home in Melrose.

John Stafford was born September 16, 1924 in Minneapolis to Harry and Gerretta (Landaal) Stafford. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII. Jack lived in Blaine where he owned and operated Jack's North Star for 5 years. He then moved to Grey Eagle and worked as a mechanic at Grey Eagle Motors until 1977. He moved to Grand Marais where he continued with his profession as a mechanic. He has been retired for the last 15 years. He enjoyed playing cribbage, music, dancing, telling stories, and most of all, tinkering with vehicles. He was a member of the Grand Marais American Legion Post 413.

Survivors include his children, Kathryn Nelson of Sauk Centre, Richard Berens and his wife, Alice of Melrose, Theresa Puntz and her husband, Kevin of Redwood Falls, Jacqueline Stafford of Melrose, Thomas Stafford of Melrose, James Stafford and his wife, Denise of Melrose, Douglas Stafford and his wife, Sheila of Sauk Centre, and one son from a previous marriage, Rick Stafford and his wife, Jan of Minneapolis; 25 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; brother, Robert Stafford and his wife, Beverly of Minneapolis; sister, Arlene Hazelton of Chippewa Falls; 7 nieces and nephews; and his beloved dog, Tinker.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Larry Stafford. Serving as casket bearers will be Thomas, James, Douglas, Robert, Derek, and Jacob Stafford.