Jeff "Butch" Mourning

Jeffrey B. Mourning of Prior Lake, MN passed away on September 18, 2024 at age 73. 

A Celebration of Life will be Friday, October 18, 2024 at 11:00 AM with a Visitation from 10:00 – 11:00 AM at Berean Baptist Church, 309 County Rd 42 E, Burnsville, MN. A reception will follow. A private family interment will be held at Spring Lake Cemetery in Prior Lake.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville. 

Jeff was born to Richard and Joan Mourning in MPLS on December 9, 1950. He grew up on Prior Lake and graduated from Prior Lake High School. He met his wife, Barbara Johnson, while at Bethel College. He enlisted in the USAF after one year of schooling. Jeff and Barb married on June 17, 1972 while he was still in the service and had finished time in Okinawa. They had five children while living in MPLS and then Prior Lake. They made so many great memories over 52 years of marriage – including vacations, kids’ sports, family gatherings with Mourning side in MPLS and Johnson side in Sawyer, Michigan. It was a busy household with four sons and one daughter, but they were a very loving family. 

Jeff worked as a machinist his whole life, many years with Control Data, Seagate and Goodrich, but his big passion in life was music! He was involved in music and drama in high school. He was in the Bethel College choir. He loved his years in the folk group “Spirit” back in the 60’s and 70’s. He was a big part of Berean Baptist’s music – decades in choir, men’s quartets, guitar, leading little children’s classes in song as “Mr. Mourning”. He also blessed many families by singing at countless weddings and funerals over the years. Jeff had been leading a hymn every Sunday in the Koinonia adult Sunday school class. He even led on the Sunday before he died – singing with Paul Rieke and harmonizing beautifully. 

A life-changing accident happened on August 20, 2018 that caused anoxic brain injury. A heart incident while up 24’ in a tree caused him to fall unconscious onto the cement driveway. Life-saving measures went on for 40 minutes before he got a pulse. We thank neighbors who started CPR almost immediately in the saving of his life. What a miracle. The family had another six years with him, but it was difficult. He spent five months in hospitals and rehabs before coming home. He struggled with cognitive impairment and physical limitations as well. He was most depressed over inability to drive and do activities that he used to do. Later, he was given a mobility scooter and that gave him some freedom to get out on his own. 

Jeff loved his family and loved that the five kids all lived close enough to come and visit or help with things. Daughter, Kim, spent almost every Monday for six years with her dad, and loved spending time with him. Jeff loved getting together with sisters, brother-in-law, and 93-year-old mom. Neighbors and friends all loved Jeff and Jeff SO appreciated how they helped out. Jeff passed away after so many struggles with congestive heart failure. 

Jeff is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barb; children, Jason, Kimberly, Timothy, and twins, Eric and Grant; grandson, Andrew Delgado; mother, Joan Mourning; siblings, Linda (Steve) Johnson, Nancy Schmitt, Jill Achen, and Jon (Cheryl) Mourning; and many other loved ones on both the Mourning and Johnson sides. 

He is preceded in death by his dad, Richard Mourning; and sister, Diane Kallsen.