John W. Sime, 88, of Chatfield, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield, Minnesota.
John was born on July 28, 1938, in rural Northwood, Iowa to Elmer and Trulie (Seuser) Sime. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Emmons High School, where he served as captain of the football and baseball teams. His love of sports remained with him throughout his life as he cheered for the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Gophers, attending the College World Series games in Omaha for 25 years and the 1987 World Series when the Minnesota Twins defeated the St. Louis Cardinals.
On August 12, 1962, he married Janice Boyken. Together they were blessed with three children: Eric, Kevin and Amy. Janice passed away from cancer in 1994 and John later married Joan Hareldson Bradt in 2011.
John attended Waldorf College for two years before graduating from Luther College in 1961. He then attended Luther Seminary in Roseville, Minnesota, and was ordained in 1965. Over the course of his ministry, he served congregations throughout Iowa and Minnesota, including Zion Lutheran Church in Hudson, Iowa (1965-1971); Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills, Iowa (1971-1974); Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Cleveland, Minnesota, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of German Lake in Waterville, Minnesota (1974-1979); Fountain Lutheran Church and Root Prairie Lutheran Church (1979-2000). Following his retirement from ministry, John worked part-time at Skippy’s grocery store in Chatfield.
John enjoyed gardening and took great pride in growing flowers, houseplants and vegetables. He was an avid collector of antique automobiles, particularly Studebakers, and was a member of the Studebaker Drivers Club. He was also actively involved in the Lions Club and enjoyed participating in community events. Known for his gift of conversation, John never met a stranger and was admired for his kindness, warmth, and friendly nature.
John loved kids, dogs, and cardinals. He loved his wife Janice’s in-home daycare kids like his own and treasured his grandchildren. He was well known at Skippy’s for buying bags of M&Ms to give to the young kids at the checkout line and always had a box of TicTacs in his shirt pocket for kids he met anywhere else.
John is survived by his wife Joan Sime, children Eric Sime of Rochester, Minnesota, Kevin (Patrik LaFratte) Sime of Des Moines, Iowa, and Amy (Rob) Love of Valley, Nebraska; grandchildren: Bryce and Breydin LaFratte and Anna, Mara, and Kate Love; sister Nadine (Allen) Suby of Ankeny, Iowa; sisters-in-law Betty Sime of Albert Lea, Minnesota, Fern Thornbury Woden, Iowa, and Marlene (Steve Doty) Ciorba of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
John is preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Trulie, wife Janice Sime in 1994, siblings Warren (Betty) Sime, Tom Sime, and Virgil and Vivian in infancy; nephew Wes Sime, father-in-law John H Boyken, mother-in-law Hulda Boyken, brothers-in-law Irvin Boyken and Jack Thornbury, and sister-in-law Myrna Boyken.
A memorial service will be held at Chatfield Lutheran Church, 304 Fillmore St SE, on Saturday, October 17 at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour before the service. A private burial will be held at a later date at Silver Lake Lutheran Cemetery, Northwood, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Chosen Valley Care Center bus donation drive at chosenvalleyseniorliving.com/donations.
Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service – Chatfield is assisting the family with arrangements.
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