Rev. John Willms

Obituary of Rev. John Karl Peter Willms

Rev John Karl Peter Willms, 92, entered into Glory' on Monday, April 8, 2019, surrounded by loving family.

John was born in Gretna, Manitoba, Canada on March 29, 1927, the eldest son of Peter J and Anna T (Fast) Willms.

In 1964 he moved to Minnesota as a single parent of two young daughters and in 1972 became a US citizen.

John had a beautiful speaking voice, studied Broadcasting in 1951, and worked for radio stations in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Sensing a call to Christian ministry, he earned Theology and Master of Divinity degrees from St Chad's College in Regina, Saskatchewan, and later a BA from UMD, also working on a Masters from UWS.

John was ordained into the Anglican Church in Canada in 1959, was very influenced by the Jesus People' movement in 1971, and until 2007 ministered in Episcopal, Presbyterian, Evangelical Free, Congregational, and Community churches throughout Saskatchewan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

A vocal pro-life activist, John helped create the Duluth Lake Superior Life Care Center in 1981-82, was its first director from 1984-88, serving on the advisory board until 2007. He received their "Guardian of Life" award in 2014.

John was also active in Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life and for many years was a strong pro-life voice to the local DFL caucus.

He loved teaching the Bible and became the dean of the Lake Superior Bible College in Duluth from 1992-97, often taking trips to Haiti, Ghana, Guatemala and Europe to teach in Bible Schools overseas.

John was also a chaplain for the Order of St. Luke' Healing Ministry, the Goodwill Industries, and for the Superior Recovery Center, where he counseled many recovering from chemical dependency.

He believed that faith must be acted on and shared with others, and spent his life joyfully demonstrating the merciful love of God to everyone he met.

John was preceded in death by his sister Victoria (Wes) Paul, of British Columbia and his granddaughter, Catherine Lee Delwiche of Glencoe, MN.

He is survived by his brothers Edgar and Paul Willms of Canada, his daughters Michelle (Jeffrey) Delwiche of Glencoe, MN and Sandra (John) Halvorsen of Duluth, MN; by his grandchildren Charita (Joshua) Menne, Stephen Delwiche, Daniel (Heather) Halvorsen, Bonnie (Ryan) Jordan, David (Trisha) Halvorsen, Laura (Aaron) Halvorsen Fregard and by his 12 great grandchildren, Catherine and Jackie Menne, Abby, Isaiah, Kadon, Lucas and Micah Jordan, and Bjorn, Inga, Anayah, Autumn and John David Halvorsen.

We all love and miss you, Grandpa John! Thank you for teaching us how to live for Jesus!

Join us at Great Lakes Church, 4501 Glenwood St, Duluth, MN at 2pm on Saturday, April 13, to celebrate his life.

A Memorial Tree was planted for Rev. John
We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Cremation Society Of Minnesota | Duluth
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