John M. Rathai, age 36, of Medford, died February 17, 2018 in Ashland, Wis., from injuries as a result of a snowmobile accident.
Funeral service took place Saturday, Febraury 24, 2018, at 1 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Faribault, 1207 Prairie Ave, Faribault, Minn. 55021. Visitation was held Friday, February 23, 2018, from 4-7 p.m. at the Medford Funeral Home, 310 East Central Ave., Medford, Minn. 55049) and one hour before the time of the funeral at the church on Saturday.
John was born August 22, 1981, in Albert Lea, Minn., the son of Tracy and Vicky (Wilson) Rathai. John attended school in New Richland and graduated in 2000. After high school he attended Rochester Community College. John was united in marriage to Alison Underland in 2006. This union brought a daughter, Bailey. John worked for the Minnesota Department of Corrections in Faribault starting as a guard, canine officer, and then elevated to lieutenant. He was in charge of the SORT TEAM (Special Operation Response Team) at the Faribault facility. John’s life was full of activities which included camping, playing softball, snowmobiling, riding his Harley, running a 15k and torch runs, along with many other outdoor activities. The greatest joy in his life was his daughter Bailey.
John will be missed by daughter Bailey and her mother Alison (Matt) Maas of Faribault, Minn.; parents Vicky Bass of Rushford, Minn., and Tracy Rathai of EauClaire, Wis.; girlfriend Jamie Goodnough of Janesville, Minn.; brothers Tyson Palm of New Richland, Minn., and Jarod Mendoza Duenas of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; sisters McKayla Rathai of Wells, Minn., and Jamie Rathai of Buffalo, Minn.; maternal grandmother Carol Wilson of Rushford, Minn., uncle Todd Pitcher of Somerset, Wis., aunt Candice Erdner of Bricelyn, Minn., Jill (Donald) Farley of Wells, Minn., and cousins. John is preceded in death by grandparents Jim Rathai, Avis Pitcher and Harvey Wilson; an uncle, Troy Rathai; and a cousin, Matthew Wilson.