JOHN J. LATURNUS

John J. Laturnus, 88 of Cando formerly of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Monday, July 23, 2012 at the Towner County Living Center, Cando. Mass of Christian Burial for John will be held on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Cando. Fr. Joseph D’Aco, Fr. Matt Pamplaniyil and Fr. Anthony Hession will concelebrate the Mass and burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Cando. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation on Saturday will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral Mass. Serving as Casket Bearers will be Ryan Goeser, Larry Lang, Randy Fitzner, Dennis Laturnus, Bill Laturnus and Jerry Laturnus. Honorary Bearers will be all of John’s nieces and nephews. Reading the Scriptures will be Kelsey Fitzner and Gift Bearers will be Ryan Goeser, Kelsey Fitzner and Logan Fitzner. Music will be provided by Cathleen Anfinson and the Sacred Heart Church Choir. John Joseph was born on June 22, 1924 at Scott, Saskatchewan, Canada, one of thirteen children born to Sylvester and Gunda June (Steffan) Laturnus. John was reared and educated in Canada. In 1947, the family moved to Starkweather, ND and a few years later to the Cando area where John spent the rest of his life. John was united in marriage to Donna Mae Lang on June 23, 1953 at Bisbee, ND. They established their home on a farm near Cando and lived, worked and raised their beloved daughter Rosemary whom they adopted when she was just 9 weeks old. John also worked as a custodian at the First State Bank of Cando for many years. John priorities were faith, family and farming. He enjoyed visiting with family and friends and a game of pinochle was always part of any gathering. He loved attending social gatherings and catching up on the happenings and events of his friends. He especially treasured time spent with his grandchildren and great grandson, Logan. John and Donna Mae were a beautiful couple who shared 59 years of marriage. They shared their faith and love of family and they also loved to dance and listen to old time music. They shared a beautiful love story. John is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Donna Mae of Cando; daughter and son-in-law Rosemary and Joe Goeser of Munich, ND; grandson Ryan Goeser also of Munich; granddaughter Kelsey and her husband Randy Fitzner of Cummings, ND and great grandson Logan Fitzner also of Cummings; brothers, sisters and their spouses, Frank and Alice Laturnus, McClusky, ND, Ann and Phil Schiele of Devils Lake, Martin and Helen Laturnus of Minneapolis, MN, Edward and Bonnie Laturnus of Munich, ND, Wendell Laturnus also of Minneapolis, Peter and Donna Lou Laturnus also of Munich and Betty Schiele of Fargo, ND; sisters-in-law Emma Laturnus, West Fargo, ND, Margaret Lang, Devils Lake, Viola Fast, Albuquerque, New Mexico and Irene Michels, Hutchinson, MN; many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. John was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brothers Regina Schall, Paul Laturnus, George Laturnus, Fred Laturnus and Joseph Laturnus; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Lawrence Schall, Adam Hoffert, Philip Schiele, Erma Laturnus, Betty Laturnus and Marie Laturnus.