Individual Details
John Thomas Bates
(22 Aug 1931 - 24 Sep 2015)
Events
| Birth | 22 Aug 1931 | Willmar, MN, | |||
| Marriage | 19 Feb 1955 | Iowa - Joan Carol O'Hara | |||
| Death | 24 Sep 2015 | complications following a cardiac arrest - Duluth, Minnesota, United States |  |
Families
| Spouse | Joan Carol O'Hara (1936 - 2020) |
| Child | Kevin John Bates (1955 - 1956) |
| Child | Colin Lee Bates (1957 - ) |
| Child | Tara Maureen Bates (1960 - ) |
| Child | Gareth William Bates (1963 - ) |
| Child | Erin Jo Bates (1966 - ) |
| Child | Kirk Thomas Bates (1971 - ) |
| Father | Leon Scoville Bates (1894 - 1968) |
| Mother | Isabel Gladys "Topsy" Ranum (1910 - 2010) |
| Sibling | Robert Leon Bates (1926 - 1993) |
| Sibling | Charles William Bates (1928 - 2016) |
| Sibling | Nancy Bates (1934 - ) |
| Sibling | Daniel Platt Bates (1943 - ) |
Notes
Death
John "Jack" Thomas Bates, 84, formerly of North Shore Drive and Gearhart Street, died Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, in St. Luke's hospice.Jack was born Aug. 22, 1931, to Leon and Isabelle "Topsy" (Ranum) Bates in Willmar, Minn. He was a 1949 graduate of Willmar High School and earned his B.S. degree in business from Mankato State University. Jack was a U.S. Army Veteran serving in the Korean War; while stationed in Japan, he climbed Mount Fuji. He married Joan O'Hara Feb. 19, 1955, in Iowa.
Jack excelled in athletics; he was the goalie for the Willmar High School hockey team when they made it to the State Hockey Tournament in 1947. They lost to the powerhouse, Eveleth, in the first round. His photo can be seen in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. While at Mankato, Jack participated in track and, at one time, held the small college record in the 440 yard dash. He followed in his dad's footsteps by becoming a Golden Glove Boxer. He was an avid outdoorsman, loved hunting and fishing.
Jack managed National T and Super Valu grocery stores prior to owning and operating the Wonderland Resort on the North Shore of Lake Superior. He and his wife, Joan, ran the resort from 1968 to 1998. Jack also was a school bus driver for the Clover Valley and Two Harbors school districts.
Jack was a member of the Clifton Volunteer Fire Department and St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Duluth.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son Kevin; and his brother, Robert.
Jack is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan; daughters Tara (Scott) Golden of Duluth and Erin Bates of Cloquet; sons Colin (Sharon), Gareth and Kirk (Heather), all of Duluth; sister Nancy (Harold) Haugen; brothers Charles and Daniel (Geri); sister-in-law Ellie Bates; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank St. Luke's 6W and 2W and Chris Jensen Willow and Cedar Units for the wonderful care of their dad.
VISITATION: 10 until the 11 a.m. memorial service Wednesday, Sept. 30, in St. Lawrence Catholic Church, 2410 Morris Thomas Road, with Fr. William Fider officiating. Burial at Oneota Cemetery. Military Honors accorded by the Duluth Combined Honor Guard.