John C. Kaproth, age 84, of Foley, was peacefully welcomed home and into the Lord’s loving arms on the morning of Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at the St. Cloud Hospital.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Saturday, January 28, 2017 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Duelm. The Rev. Virgil Helmin will officiate. Burial will be in the Parish Cemetery. 

  Friends may call from 4-8 PM Friday at the Foley Funeral Home in Foley with Parish Prayers at 4:30 PM and Knights of Columbus Rosary at 7 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church Saturday.  Service with Dignity provided by Foley Funeral Home.

   John Casper Kaproth was born October 16, 1932 in St. George Township, Minnesota, the son of Casper and Stella (Gapinski) Kaproth. He graduated from Foley High School and farmed all of his life in St. George Township.  On May 5, 1953, John was united in marriage with Phyllis Sakry at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.  He was very active in land conservation and restoration.  He took great pride in conservation efforts such as planting trees, native prairie grasses and wildflowers.  John and Phyllis were awarded Outstanding Conservation Farmer in 1988 by the Benton County Soil and Water Conservation District.  He was an active sportsman; enjoying fishing trips to Michigan for salmon, moose hunting in Canada and elk hunting in Montana.  For the past 35 years, their family spent a week at Lake Winnibigosh in the summer and enjoyed spear fishing in the winter.  He was a member of Pheasants Forever, releasing pheasants and providing nesting coverage for wildlife.  John worked at Franklin Manufacturing for 34 years.  He was a long time and active member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, the Fr. Pierz Assembly of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, and the Duelm Knights of Columbus.

   Left to honor John’s life are his wife, Phyllis of Foley; children:  Peggy Kaproth (Steve Lee) of Minneapolis, Joan (Richard) MacDonald of Delmar, DE, Chuck (Suzie Schueller) of St. Cloud, Debra (Dale) Barbour of Kinder, LA, Douglas of Foley, Tiffany (Kipp) Burnette of Prior Lake; 9 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; as well as other relatives and friends. 

   John was preceded in death by his parents and siblings:  Charles, an infant brother, Angeline Kaproth, Hattie Kaproth, Dorothy Kaproth-Hendricks, Josephine Harmon, Anne Ramsey, Gertrude Brunn and Mary Compton.       

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