John Marson 03/30/2013

John Robert Marson, age 51, formerly of Hudson passed away at his home in Beldenville, WI on March, 30, 2013.

John was born in El Paso, Texas September 8, 1961 to Tom and Mercedes Marson.  John’s family moved to Hudson in 1965 where he attended St. Patrick’s parochial school and Hudson public schools. He graduated in 1979 from Hudson High School. John was a talented artist and created artwork for the Hudson high school newspaper and yearbook. He was known to his school friends as the “go-to” scientific guy with a gregarious personality and dynamic smile.

After high school, John attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, University of Wisconsin-Stout and University of Minnesota.

A skillful hockey player, John played center and wing for Hudson in the bantam, midget and high school ice hockey leagues. Through John’s self-determination, perfection of skill and countless hours of sacrifice and practice, John was soon scrimmaging with players of the Minnesota North Stars and St. Paul Saints at the Parade Ice Gardens in Minneapolis.  John went on to try out for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons hockey team and made the team as a starter. He immediately thereafter suffered a debilitating and irreversible knee injury and was forced to exit his hockey career.

Completely self-taught, John had the ability to pick up any musical instrument and learn it within months. He was recruited by several local and regional rock bands and spent many years as a full-time rock musician. He was a brilliant guitarist who toiled for hours writing, perfecting and recording his music. John held a number of positions, from Control Data Quality Control Specialist to Minneapolis Airport Security Guard to supplement his musician’s income. John often said that his most stressful occupation was as a Minneapolis Airport gate security guard right after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

John was a humble, gentle man with a kind and tender heart. Stray animals would routinely find John’s house where he would feed them until they meandered on to their next destination.

John was also greatly interested in the life and work of Father Solanus Casey, a Capuchin Franciscan priest who spent his life in the service of people.

Radio-controlled (RC) planes were John’s biggest passion in later years—a hobby he enjoyed with his father, Tom Marson. John spent countless hours building RC planes and perfecting his RC flying skills. Equally important to John was the camaraderie he shared over the years with his fellow RC plane enthusiasts on the RC flying fields of Lake Elmo.

John is preceded in death by his mother, Mercedes Marson (March 18, 2013), and grandparents’ Jose and Juliana Salinas, and Francis and Frances Marson.

John will be greatly missed by his father Tom, and siblings Michael (Cindy) Marson, New Brighton, MN; Mari Marson, Hudson, WI; James (Kathy) Marson, Minneapolis, MN; and Julie Marson, Hudson, WI; nephew, Cooper Marson, Minneapolis, MN; and by his many RC flying friends.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial was held Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 11:00 am at St. Patrick’s Church in Hudson, Wisconsin. Interment was in St. Patrick’s Cemetery. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services of Hudson.