John D. “Jack” Bailey, age 85 of River Falls, Wis., died surrounded by his family on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. John was born the son of Thomas and Betty (Caddy) Bailey on Jan. 16, 1939, in St. Paul, Minn. He grew up near Virginia, Minn. and graduated from Mountain Iron High School with the class of 1957. After graduation, he went to work with his father in road construction. It was during this early stage of his career his work brought him to Menomonie, Wis. There he met the love of his life, Shirley Schlueter. They were married after a whirlwind romance, on Oct. 4, 1958, at an Assembly of God Church in Minneapolis. John and Shirley began their married life living in Minneapolis. John was drafted and served admirably in the United States Army from 1961 to 1965. After returning from the service, he continued his career in road construction until his retirement in 2001. John worked on many of the bridges in the Twin Cities area including the I94 bridge over the St. Croix River in Hudson, Wis.
Upon his return from the service, he and Shirley moved to Forest Lake, Minn. and then to Lindstrom, Minn. where they started their family. While in Lindstrom, John helped build Maranatha Assembly of God Church in Chisago City, Minn. where he served on the church board for a number of years. They later relocated to the Hammond/Baldwin, Wis. area where they raised their family. John was a hardworking, dedicated man of God who was never late for anything.
After their retirements, John and Shirley moved to River Falls, Wis. to be near family. John enjoyed joking around with his children and grandchildren. He loved being a grandpa! He lived by the motto “Grandpa’s the name, Spoiling’s the game.” He spent many nights watching his grandchildren in dance recitals, band and choir concerts, high school musicals, hockey, basketball, baseball, and football games. He and Shirley enjoyed taking vacation trips to Mississippi to see their grandchildren who lived there. John was also an avid Packer, NASCAR, and March Madness fan.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Betty Bailey, and sister, Marjorie Walsh. John is survived by his wife of 66 years, Shirley Bailey; children, Ilene (Ted) Firth, Steven Bailey, Stacey (Jake) Wagner; grandchildren, Mandy (Blesson Thomas) Firth, Grace Firth, John Firth, Natashia Panyko, Bryana Bailey, Veronica (Tyler) Galvin, Steven (Bri) Bailey, Christian Bailey, Abby Wagner, Gavin Wagner; great-grandchildren, Kylie, Kasen, Maisyn, and Leland; and many other relatives and friends. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services (805 E. Division St., River Falls, WI.) Visitation was held on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024, from 4-8 p.m. and on Wednesday from 10–11 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Baldwin Cemetery in Baldwin, Wis. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.
