John Eldon Carver

John Carver, 89, of Willmar, died Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at Bethesda Grand in Willmar.

His celebration of life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 4, at First Presbyterian Church in Willmar with visitation from 9:30-11:00 a.m. at the church.  The service will be streamed on the church's webpage.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Willmar.  Memorials are preferred to First Presbyterian Church or Disabled American Veterans.  Arrangements are with Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar, www.hafh.org.

John Eldon Carver was born March 23, 1935, in Lamberton, Minnesota, the son of Cecil and Esther (Dagner) Carver.  In 1940, his family moved to Willmar and he received his education at Lincoln and Garfield Elementary Schools and Willmar Junior and Senior High Schools.  He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January 1954 and served as a flight engineer during the Korean War.  He received his honorable discharge in October 1957.

Following his discharge, he began working for the Minnesota Department of Transportation in Mankato.  On March 8, 1962, he married Vicki Honeycutt in Webster, South Dakota.  They made their home in Eagle Lake, Minnesota, where they raised their three children: Laurie, John, and Jill.  In 1990, John retired after a 33-year career as a heavy equipment field mechanic for MnDOT in Mankato.  In 1993, they moved to their lake home on Lake Andrew and in 2018, they moved into Willmar.

John was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an usher and a deacon, and helped with the annual hog roast.  He was a life member of the Spicer American Legion Post and a member of the Disabled American Veterans.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, and most of all, spending time with his family.

John is survived by his wife of 62 years: Vicki; three children: Laurie (Randy) Davis of Lake Crystal, MN, John (Victoria) Carver of Madison Lake, MN, and Jill (Joseph) Baker of New London, MN; nine grandchildren: Michael (Liza) Davis, Daniel (Carli) Davis, Jordan (Bethany) Carver, Melissa Carver, Elizabeth Carver, Jason Carver, Nicholas Baker, Megan Baker, and Christopher Baker; and nine great-grandchildren: Zane, Avery and Blair Davis, Alivia Davis, Samuel, Grace, Lauren and Allie Carver, and Olive Baker.  He is also survived by three brothers: James (Dorothy) Carver of Mankato, MN, Richard (Donna) Carver of Atwater, MN, and Frank (Betsy) Davis of Cedar Rapids, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Cecil Carver and Esther Carver Davis; his stepfather: Frank Davis; three brothers: Charles Carver, Cecil Carver, and George Carver; and a sister: Martha Carver.

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