BAXTER — John “Jack” Silker, 88, of Baxter, Minn., passed away peacefully Tuesday evening, April 30, 2019, at his home A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, May 10, 2019, at First Congregational Church in Fairmont, Minn., with a lunch served after the service. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

John Bruce Silker was born July 17, 1930, in Minneapolis, Minn., the son of John and Emma Silker. Jack graduated from Fairmont High School in 1948.

In September 1948, Jack was united in marriage to Joan Harris and they resided in Fairmont, Minn., until her death in 1961. They were blessed with five children.

On Oct. 17, 1964, Jack was united in marriage to Peggy Huffman and together raised two sons.

Jack started as a teenager working in the Coast to Coast store with his father in the 1940s and, in 1950, began purchasing partial ownership. In 1968, he had full ownership. Jack established Midwest Sports Center in Fairmont before his retirement to Brainerd in 1978. Jack and Peggy then purchased Caribou Lodge in Canada, where he enjoyed flying his float plane. With his wife Peggy, they established Silker’s Sportswear, operating that for 18 years in Merrifield, Minn.

Jack loved the outdoors and enjoyed archery, water skiing, boating, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, racing and flying.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Teresa (Rick) Stratton, Susan (Jamie) Smith, Jeffrey (Karen) Silker, Neil (Sue) Silker, Kathy (Randy) Strauser, Michael Silker, and Chad (Jamie) Silker; brother, Glen (Sue) Silker; sister, Joyce Gilbertson; brother-in-law, Brian Huffman; sisters-in-law, Wendy (Dallas) Becker, Bonnie Walser, Nancy (Dick) Lobb, Wanda Ganske; fishing buddy, Lon (Marilyn) Oelke; 23 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, John and Emma Silker; his wife, Joan; sister and brother-in-law, Jane and Louis Lombardo; brothers-in-law, Jim Gilbertson, Duane Walser; mother and father-in-law, Lloyd and Esther Huffman; brothers-in-law, Larry (Gloria) and Perry Huffman; mother and father-in-law, Philo (Pete) and Pearl Harris; brothers and sisters-in-law, Art and Neva Kost, Perry and LaVonne Harris; brother-in-law, Dale Ganske; and his lifelong friend, Floyd Buckmeier.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Martin County animal shelter, St. Croix Hospice in Brainerd, MN or First Baptist Church in Baxter, MN.

Brenny Family Funeral Chapel, 1-800-824-5051

www.brenny.com

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