John Charles Corcoran Jr.

John Charles Corcoran Jr., age 84, of Wells, Minnesota, passed away on Monday, December 25, 2023, surrounded by family following an extended illness. John was born on June 22, 1939, at home on the family farm in Dexter, Minnesota to John Charles Sr. and Mildred (Boe) Corcoran. He graduated from Pacelli High School in Austin, Minnesota. He married Bonnie Jean Lennon at Sacred Heart Church in Waseca, Minnesota on March 3, 1962. The couple were blessed with 3 children, Shelly, Dan, and Kim. John was talented at many things and had a very good work ethic. As a teenager, he worked with his dad, Jack Corcoran, as a contracted mail carrier. He supported his family of 5 as a professional truck driver, hauling mobile homes and boats coast to coast. He received an award for two million safe miles while trucking in his many years behind the wheel. In the early 1960s, John played acoustic and electric rhythm guitar and sang in ‘The Arcades’, a country western band. John was an avid reader of financial journals, nonfiction books and autobiographies, it would fuel his curious mind. He also enjoyed investing in the stock market and was able to retire early through managing his stock investments. John enjoyed living with his family and retiring in his lake home that he and Bonnie purchased in 1973. John enjoyed canoeing, duck hunting, deer hunting, and attending gun shows with friends and family. He had a passion for his daily fresh ground coffee. He used a commercial coffee grinder at home, and he was known to pack a fueled generator for mountain camping to be sure he could grind and brew his early morning coffee. John was an amateur logger from his early experiences in the Big Horn Mountains with his uncles. When he moved his family to their lake home, he made sure to keep the wood pile stacked for the cold and windy winters. John and his brothers took on many projects together all through their lives and made time for annual sibling gatherings. Their children and grandchildren have many colorful stories to remember them all by. John was able to remain in his lake home during his last illness with the help of his family, daily care providers and his Mayo Hospice Care Team.

John is survived by his children, Shelly Lynn Corcoran of Kenyon, Minnesota, Dan Corcoran of Sheridan, Wyoming and Kim (Scott) Daubanton of Stillwater, Minnesota; grandchildren, Amber Lynn (Jerry D.) Taylor, Andre Flikke, Terry James Gemborys, Katelyn Diane Corcoran, and Jack Daubanton; great grandchildren, Jerry G. Taylor and Natalie L. Corcoran; siblings, Gary Thomas Corcoran, Austin, MN and Dorothy Ellan Mandler, St. Paul, MN; along with several nieces, nephews and cousins. John was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Milly; his wife, Bonnie Jean; brothers, David M. (Mary) Corcoran, Eugene C. Corcoran and Daniel J. Corcoran; and brother-in-law, Harlan Mandler.