CRESCO — John Mikkelson believed in giving the people he loved room to become everything they could be. The Cresco father, grandfather and conservationist passed away September 19, 2026, at the Rehabilitation Center of Allison, surrounded by his family. He was 79.
Family and friends will celebrate John’s life Saturday, October 3, at Heritage Event Center, 231 Third Avenue West in Cresco. Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11 a.m., followed by a memorial service from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Brunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with time to gather and visit until 1 p.m. A private family burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at New Oregon Cemetery, where John will be laid to rest beside his wife, Sandy.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Brady’s Brilliance Scholarship through Crestwood Dollars for Scholars, Howard County Hospice or the Howard County Cancer Association.
Born March 28, 1947, in Richmond, California, John was the son of Myron “Mike” and Ethel (Shelton) Mikkelson. A rare childhood hip disease brought his family back and forth between California and Wisconsin as they sought a warmer climate and specialized medical care.
During those early years, John witnessed a racially motivated attack on his best friend. The memory remained with him throughout his life and helped shape his determination to look beyond differences and recognize each person’s worth.
His family eventually settled in Cresco, where John graduated from Crestwood High School in 1965. He would later say the move had one particular purpose: introducing him to Sandra Stopperan.
John and Sandy dated through high school and college and married July 26, 1969. Their wedding supplied a story the family would keep telling: Sandy realized as she began walking down the aisle that she had left John’s ring at home, prompting a borrowed ring from a groomsman.
Together, they raised Brady and Tara and filled summers at their Mississippi River cabin in Lansing with fishing, ice cream and time outdoors. John made sure his children understood how much their mother meant to him. Loving Sandy, and making certain she knew it, was a responsibility he treasured.
After cancer took Sandy’s life 30 years ago, John continued to express that love through the care he gave their family.
For Brady, who has Down syndrome, John was a steady champion. He wanted his son to have opportunities, independence and a meaningful life, and he worked to help make those things possible. His efforts included helping establish a preschool in Waukon and the Abner Hendrickson School in Decorah, creating opportunities for Brady and other children.
Near the end of John’s life, Brady offered a goodbye that captured their bond: “You’re the best father ever.”
Tara remembers a father who encouraged her to speak up for her beliefs, care deeply and trust that doing something differently did not mean doing it wrong. He also gave her a lasting appreciation for the water, a fishing pole and the peace of being outdoors.
His grandchildren knew him as Boppa, a name that began with Payge after John visited her eight times on Whidbey Island during her first year. The name now carries into another generation through his great-grandson, Liam.
John’s care extended to the land. His working years took him through Goodyear Tires, The Hub and ADS Tiling before he became a soil conservation engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Cresco. Following retirement, he continued working alongside farmers at Mehmert Tiling, maintaining both the friendships and conservation work he valued.
Fishing brought another circle of cherished friends. For more than 25 years, trips to Lynn Lake Lodge and the lakes around Webster, South Dakota, supplied John with good company and plenty of stories. When fishing slowed, cards and cribbage took over. Broken axles, muddy recoveries and boat mishaps became memories to laugh about on the next trip.
With friends Jarry Hughes and Gary Kelm, John belonged to a trio affectionately nicknamed the “Three Fishketeers.” He loved sharing those trips with Tara and her husband, Bill.
John leaves his children, Brady Mikkelson and Tara Soesbe and her husband, Dr. William “Bill” Soesbe III; grandchildren, Payge Duerre, Lawsen Stage and Olivia Stage; and great-grandson, William “Liam” Stage. His extended Stopperan family and longtime friends also held an important place in his life. Among the losses he carried were those of Sandy and his infant brother, Darrel.
His family expressed gratitude to the friends who brought meals, ran errands, sat beside him and offered companionship, and to Howard County Hospice, especially Kathy Grinhaug and Sue Eggrichs, for their care during his final months.
Quietly funny, loyal and firm in his convictions, John gave his family something they will continue to carry: the confidence of being loved and believed in.
Read John’s full obituary and share a memory through Lindstrom Funeral Home.
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