John A. Halloran, 95

With his family at his side on April 9, 2020,  John A. Halloran (age 95) died peacefully in the house he built on his farm in Belle Plaine Township.  Due to the restrictions with the COVID~19 Virus, services will be private.

John was born to John P. and Grace (Schoell) Halloran on October 20, 1924 in Belle Plaine. He attended Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Grade School in Belle Plaine and New Prague High School, from which he graduated in 1942. After a farm deferment, he was drafted in Spring 1945 and served his country in Japan as an MP in the Occupation Forces.

After the war he met Betty Schultz of Saint Paul. They married in 1952 and settled on their farm in Belle Plaine township and raised five children. Betty worked as a nurse in New Prague and John farmed. He also worked in the late fall and winter as a Federal Crop Insurance adjuster. Being a farmer himself, he enjoyed driving through rural Minnesota, visiting the farms, and working with the individual farmers.

From childhood, John enjoyed working with and riding horses. He was active in the local Saddle Club and shared this hobby with his children: they attended many horse shows and trail rides as a family. He liked to be outdoors and went on multiple fishing trips to northern Minnesota with family and Canada with friends. John and Betty also took an annual summer vacation “up north” with their ever growing family, which was the place of many happy memories and traditions. He was a photographer all his life and enjoyed taking candid photos as well as scenery and portraits. He loved to show the family pictures and tell their stories. Later in life, John learned the computer skills needed to stay in contact with his family, especially his 18 grandchildren; he loved to send and receive emails with updates from the farm, pictures, and stories.

John recognized the importance of conservation for our wildlife and was an active member in Scott County Pheasants Forever. There was always an acre of corn left standing over the winter for deer and pheasants on his land that bordered the wildlife area next to his farm.

John is survived by his and Betty's five children, Gertrude Jensen of Belle Plaine, Timothy (Sue) of Belle Plaine, Terrance (Dawn) of New Prague, Brigid (Tom) Altman of Shakopee and Barbara Halloran of Grand Junction, Colorado. Eighteen grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Grandchildren: Rebecca (Jeff) Glynn, Mary (Adrian) Bahr, Joseph (Alison) Fogarty, Jason Fogarty, James (Jessica) Fogarty, Erin (fiancé-Daniel) Halloran, Brian (friend-Emily) Halloran, Camille Halloran, Rachel Halloran (Jake), Jeremy Halloran, Tanya Halloran (fiancé-Drew), Anna Altman, Marie (David) Flores, Ben (Mona) Altman, Katherine (Charlie) Montenegro, Travis Hobbs, Elizabeth (Lalo) Respicio, Kenny (fiancé-Alex) Hobbs.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, parents John P. and Grace Halloran and brothers Edward, Joseph (Jokie), and Jimmy. He is survived by his sisters: Ruthie Johnson of Madelia, Doris Solie of Eden Prairie, and Mary Louise Hayden of Le Center and sisters-in-law: Marion Halloran, Rose Halloran and Mary Jean Halloran.