John D. Mariani of Minnetonka passed quietly on June 8, 2025, days before his 90th birthday.

He will be deeply missed by his children Dan (Nancy), Dave (Deanna), Adair (John), grandchildren Dominic, Joey, and Gianna. John was preceded in death by his wife Mary Bjorgen, father, Ernest, and mother, Rosie.

In 1935 John was born in Hibbing, his mother and paternal grandfather, Italian immigrants. John worked in an iron ore mine on the iron range when he was 16. A highly energetic individual, John worked his way through Hibbing Community College, College of St. Thomas and University of North Dakota where he earned a law degree. As a personal injury attorney, he supported police in high-profile cases and earned respect in the law community for his diligence and hard work.

At a fraternity/sorority mixer at UND he met his love, Mary, and they spent over 50 years together until her death in 2016. John and Mary began their life together in Moorhead and welcomed sons Dan and Dave. A new attorney with Schermer & Gensler moved the family to Minnetonka and daughter Adair was born. John spent 58 years in the Deephaven and Minnetonka communities, active in gardening clubs, coaching his children’s baseball and softball teams, hosting dinner parties, growing apples, Scouting and Indian Princesses, a devout catholic, and singing show toons and patriotic songs.

John loved growing flowers and vegetables in his gardens, plowing his steep driveway, bocce ball, Clark Griswold family road trips, golf and spending time at the cabin. His charitable-giving-spirit touched horticulture, law enforcement, MN State Fair Foundation, horses in transition, his church and more. A lover of Italian cooking, he was famous for his pizzas and New Years Day tradition of homemade ravioli. These were the simple pleasures that truly defined him.

Mass of Christian Burial this summer.