John J. Pfau

Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary
2060 Commerce Drive
North Mankato, MN  56003
(507) 388-2288

John J. Pfau, age 87, of Mankato, passed away Friday, June 3, 2016, at Pathstone Living in Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, June 11, 2016, at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 423 W. 7th Street, Mankato.  Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. on Friday at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, and continues one hour prior to the mass at church on Saturday.  Interment will be held at a later date at Calvary Cemetery in Mankato.

John was born October 15, 1928, in Freeport.  He was the son of John A. and Anna (Kochman) Pfau.  John attended school in New Munich and was a 1946 graduate of Melrose High School.  He then attended St. John’s University and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business from St. Cloud State University.  He was united in marriage to Delores Lola Everson on June 19, 1954, at the St. Cloud Cathedral.

Before moving to Mankato, John had worked for the St. Cloud Register, the Brainerd Daily Dispatch, and the Allied Stores Corp. in St. Paul and Rapid City.  In 1961, he was hired as Advertising and Promotions Manager, and later as Non-Food Store Manager for Madsen Enterprises in Mankato.  In 1972, John and Delores entered into a partnership with another couple, Bill and Pat Fetter, to become the first Taco John’s franchise in Minnesota.  After opening four stores, the partnership was dissolved and John and Delores went on to open five more Taco John’s locations.

John was a member of numerous organizations, serving as President of the Mankato Exchange Club, Mankato Credit Bureau, St. Joseph the Worker PTA, Vice President of the North Mankato Rotary Club, Exalted Ruler of the Mankato Elks Lodge, graduate assistant for the Dale Carnegie course, Tosatmasters, Taco John’s national Advertising committee, Board of Directors for VINE Faith in Action, Summit Center Board, Lions Club, Jaycees, VOSH, and was also a member of the MSU Presidents Circle.  John had thirty-one years of continuous sobriety thanks to the A.A. community.  He spent many hours during those years speaking to various groups, and helped organize groups to assist anyone with addiction problems.

For a great part of his life, John enjoyed fishing, reading, and classical music.  He and Delores enjoyed traveling through all 50 U.S. states as well as many other countries.  Cruise ship travel was always a favorite of theirs.  A special joy for the past four years was his great-grandchildren:  Carsten, Rosemary, & Thomas Thompson, and Maria & Mason Nelson.

John is survived by his wife of 62 years, Delores Pfau of Mankato; four daughters, Jody (Brian) Lange of North Mankato, Terry (Tom) Thompson of Red Wing, Kristin (Rob) Hoehn of Mankato, and Peggy (Dan) Drugan of New Ulm; one son, Douglas (Teresa) Pfau of Overland Park, KS; fifteen grandchildren, Andrea (Mike) Collins, Blake (Rebecca) & Alex Thompson, Stephanie (Mike) Blommel, Ted, Neil, Peter, Michael, & Brian Pfau, Cole (Melissa), Tyler, & Rachel Nelson, Heather (Ryan) Perlt, and Kjerstin Drugan; two brothers, Francis and Donald Pfau; two sisters, Mary Ann Traynor and Henrietta Reiner; also nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Gretchen Drugan; two brothers, Jerome and Edmund; and a sister, Regina Crotty.

Some of John’s favorite charities were:  VINE, Sober School, St. Joseph the Worker Men’s Club/Women’s Mission Group, and the Salvation Army.