John H. Binsfeld

The Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of John Howard Binsfeld, age 62, of Holdingford, was held Monday, December 14 at the Church of All Saints-St. Hedwig. Father Greg Mastey presided. Burial followed in the St. Hedwig’s Cemetery. John died at home surrounded by his family, after a 3 1/2 year battle with stage 4 cancer.
John was born August 6, 1953, in Groton, Connecticut at a Naval Submarine Base Hospital to Arthur and Marjorie (Fernandez) Binsfeld. John grew up in a Naval military family, living in various areas of the United States including Connecticut, Brooklyn, NY, Key West, FL and Milwaukee, WI. John was a 1971 graduate of Holdingford High School. He spent much of his teen years helping at his family’s restaurants in Holdingford and Bowlus. After graduation John worked in many capacities managing restaurants, working in the offices at Polar Manufacturing, as a security guard and in the dairy industries. John was a member of the Merchant Marine on the ship “Charles M. Beagley” in 1974 and 1975. He married Deborah (Czech) Binsfeld on April 5, 1975 at St. Hedwig’s Church in Holdingford.
In 1982, John entered St. Cloud State University at the age of 29. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1989. Ten years later John graduated with a Master’s Degree in Information Resources/Human Resources from St. Cloud State University. John then worked at the St. Cloud Technical College, as a Reference Librarian and a Project Manager in partnership with the St. Cloud Technical College Transportation Faculty, which lead to a MNGREAT Award in 1999. From 1999-2001 John worked at Winona State University as a TeachNet Manager. In 2004-2005, John worked as an AMERICORP VISTA volunteer, working with Holdingford Helping Hands and was instrumental in setting up the Rural Stearns Faith in Action Program, which he also served as a board member for many years.
In 2006, John began his doctorate in Psychology, and as a psychology student began teaching as an adjunct faculty at the Minnesota School of Business. In 2010 became an online professor at Upper Iowa University. John finished his doctoral dissertation on September 12, 2012, and graduated from Capella University, with a PH.D in Philosophy of Psychology in August, 2013. John taught at Upper Iowa until October 2015, when his cancer didn’t allow him to teach any longer.
John was a member of the church of All Saints-St. Hedwig’s, the American Psychological Association, and for many years a member of the Holdingford Commercial Club as a main street business owner. As a local entrepreneur John’s businesses included Gifties-N-Goodies, IR-IS Productions, Binsfeld Gallery and rental units.
John had a passion for painting, especially charcoals, which he began at a very young age. John’s greatest loves were teaching, music, (playing instruments and singing) as well as reading, building and designing things, but most of all spending time with his children and grandson.
John is survived by his wife Deborah of 40 years; his children Gregory, San Francisco, CA; Michelle Kiley Little Falls; grandson Grant Kiley; his father Arthur Binsfeld, Richmond; his brothers and sisters Rebecca (Jim) Stanoch, Holdingford; Dawn Marie (Jay) Brown, Paynesville; James (Jennifer) Binsfeld, Paynesville; and Thomas (Kris) Binsfeld, Cold Spring.
John was preceded in death by his mother Marjorie Binsfeld, his sister Barbara Binsfeld, his grandparents Nick and Alice Binsfeld, Ed and Minnie Fernandez, and his uncle Neal Fernandez. John’s greatest love were for God, Family, Education and Community.