John P. TeBrake

John P. TeBrake, age 87, of Brooten, MN, died peacefully at his home on Saturday, May 28, 2022, in the company of his loving family. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 4th at Brooten Community Church, in Brooten, with Pastor Rick Krasky officiating. Visitation will be at the church on Saturday beginning at 10:00 A.M. and running until the time of service. Inurnment will be in Bethany Cemetery at Brooten. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Brooten.

John Peter TeBrake was born on February 7, 1935, at home on the family farm near Brooten. He was the first of five children born to parents William and Helen (Segaar) TeBrake. John attended school in Brooten, graduating from Brooten High School in 1952. While in high school he played basketball and sang with the choir. On July 17, 1953, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Edith Hoogeveen. The two made their home in Brooten, where they raised a family of three daughters and two sons, Luann, Larry, Karen, Dean and Patty.

After high school, John worked at the Belgrade Feed Mill before joining his father, William TeBrake, at Brooten Implement selling John Deere tractors and equipment. In 1968, he went into business with his best friend and business partner, Lloyd DeRoo. For the next 29 years the two operated Brooten Truck Body, where they built truck boxes, sandblasted, repaired, and painted trucks. In John’s retirement years he continued to work part time for Bayer Built and Big A Auto.

John grew up in a musical family and throughout his lifetime music brought him much enjoyment. As a young man he sang in a Barbershop Quartet with his brothers and he spent many years singing with the Pope County Men’s Chorus. He also enjoyed working outside with Edith in their flower and vegetable gardens and he took great pride in maintaining a beautiful lawn. John was active in the Christian Reformed Church (now Brooten Community Church) where he was a board member for several years. He served on the school board for Brooten schools for 9 years and was Mayor of Brooten for 12 years.

John Peter TeBrake passed away quietly at home while surrounded by his family on Saturday, May 28, 2022.

John is survived by his wife of 68 years, Edith TeBrake of Brooten; their five children, Luann (Gary) Lieske of Maple Grove, Larry (Monica) TeBrake of New London, Karen (Mark) Melhorn of Crystal, Dean (Laurie) TeBrake of Shakopee, and Patty (Michael) Branch of Mesa, AZ; 14 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Bill (Roberta Yackira), Paul (Ruth), Wayne (Nelva); and brother-in-law, Jim (Shirley) Gage.

John was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Mary Gage; sister-in-law, Janet (Mrs. Bill) TeBrake; daughter-in-law, Susan (Mrs. Dean) TeBrake; and two grandchildren, Nikki Branch and Aaron Fuchs.

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