John A. Hook

John A. Hook, 90, passed away peacefully on August 18, 2024. A Celebration of Life will be held for John on Sept. 6, 2024 at Ballard Sunder Funeral Home in Shakopee (833 Marschall Rd.) at 12:30pm. Prior to the Celebration, there will be a Time of Gathering from 11-12:30pm. 

John Akeley Hook was born April 1, 1934 in Omaha, NE and was raised in Fargo, ND by his parents Aubrey and Martha Hook. He had an older sister, Ann, and a younger brother, Tom. As a young boy, he spent most of his summers on the water at the family cottage in Detroit Lakes,MN. He enjoyed sailing, boating, fishing and water skiing. John, his brother, and his friends put on water ski shows at the lake, including jumping over self made ramps.They got the idea to perform after they watched Tommy Bartlett put on a show in the early 1950's. John was also a skilled snow skier and filmed Virginia while they both skied down Terry Peak Mountain in the Black Hills.

John and his brother Tom also did their own July 4th fireworks shows from a rented pontoon boat. This stopped after one of their performances was cut short by a stray spark. This spark caused all of the fireworks to fire off at the same time. The boys made it out safely after they jumped into the lake and swam to the shore.

John married his High School sweetheart, Virginia Grindeland, on Nov. 2, 1955. They raised four children, John (Diania), Laura (Terry), Peter (Karlene) and Sara. Throughout his life, they lived in Fargo and Minot, ND , Sioux Falls, SD and then finally settled in Burnsville, MN during the winter of 1969/70. As a family and with their friends, they did a lot of camping in Yankton, SD, Okoboji, IA, and trailer camping in the Blacks Hills. John and Virginia were able to go on a Mediterranean Cruise and had a wonderful time.

 John was a salesman his whole career, working for Westinghouse, Mosler Safe Co., AMP Inc., and then sold Ford Trucks at Town's Edge Ford and Freeway Ford. He often earned the 'Top Salesman of the Week' title during his time there. He finished his career self employed selling and servicing VFDs to building contractors. John's genuine friendliness when meeting new people combined with his mechanical/technical knowledge put his customers at ease. He was quick to earn the trust of his clients.

John could fix anything around the house and passed this “MacGyver-like” ability to his sons. He was a man of faith and taught Sunday School for a short time at their Episcopal Church in Sioux Falls.

There were 3 things in life John found great joy............ a good cup of coffee, a good meal and Budweiser! Of course, his family came first for John. He always saw the good in those close to him, even when he was meeting them for the first time. John also enjoyed hunting for deer and pheasant, snowmobiling, learning how to fly a small airplane in his free time, and riding street motorcycles. He eventually moved onto racing motorcycles which included cross-country Enduro events and Flat Tracking. The whole family made many trips to Sturgis in the Black Hills to compete in Flat Track races. Everyone got to enjoy trail riding and camping as well.

Even in his last weeks at St. Gertrude's TCU Unit, he greeted people with a friendly 'Hello' and marveled at their genuine good nature. He will be greatly missed by friends and especially his family.

John is Survived by his loving wife, Virginia; children, John (Diana), Laura (Terry), and Peter (Karlene); grandchildren, Elizabth, Emma, Kathryn (Brent), Ashley, Aleisha, Andrew (Hannah) and Madison; great grandchildren; Avery Jackson, Korrine, and Grace. He was preceded in death by his parents, Aubrey and Martha Hook; daughter, Sara; and brother Tom.