John P. Humphrey, age 57, died on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, WI. John Patrick Humphrey was born to James and Marie Humphrey on July 9th, 1964 in Saint Paul, MN. He is the youngest of four brothers, Robert, James and Thomas. He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Marie.
In his short 57 years on this earth, John was a true example of a devout Catholic, a loyal husband, a loving father, a guiding friend and selfless worker.
John married the woman of his dreams, Kimberly, on November 30th, 1990 and that is when their love story began. They were married at Saint Agnes Catholic Church with a simple yet beautiful wedding and shortly after, they moved to Oakdale to grow and raise their family. With six children, four grandchildren and one on the way, he showed his unwavering devotion and support to each and every one.
He was a tough love teacher.
A life coach.
A provider.
A shoulder to cry on.
A selfless soul.
John was an avid lover of the outdoors who passed along his appreciation for nature to his family. Many years were spent camping, hiking and fishing in the Boundary Waters. His family’s eyes were opened to the high mountains and the open plains as they frequented his favorite place in Montana…Big Sky. He enjoyed nothing more than planning and creating these experiences for his family that built a very strong bond amongst them all and memories to be relived for a lifetime.
He was a dedicated employee at Metro Transit for 30+ years where he continued, with hard work and determination, to evolve in his career. Many long days and weekends, he set aside his own time to support his large family but occasionally we’d get the “I’m just closing my eyes for a minute” as he peacefully rested on the couch.
Many knew John as an outgoing, charismatic individual that when in his presence you were either going to get fed well, handed a cocktail, a life lesson, a little teasing and always that beautiful friendly smile. Whether you knew him a little or a lot, you could not help but like the guy.
Family was the light of his life but no light was brighter than that of his wife’s. John and Kim were John and Kim…inseparable. They truly enjoyed each other’s company, valued each other’s opinions and shared the same dreams. Whatever life threw their way they conquered it as a team.
But what really inspired John to be the most amazing husband and father was his faith. His core values were strong and it was reflected in the small daily choices he made to consciously be a person of integrity, kindness, selflessness, loyalty and always grateful for what he had.
His memory will live on in our hearts and we are so thankful for all he did.
Because of him we have faith that we will one day be together. Because of him we know what a good person is. Because of him we know what true love is.
Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday, January 6, 2022 at 10:30AM at Transfiguration Catholic Church (6133 15th Street North) Oakdale, MN with a visitation starting at 9:00AM. Interment was in Guardian Angels Cemetery in Oakdale, MN. The Mass of Christian Burial will be livestreamed via a link below the obituary. Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.
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61 Comments
My deepest condolences! I remember the first time I met John. What a great guy. You can’t forget that smile.
I met John about 6 months ago and was just getting to know him, before this happened. Such a tragedy and loss to our community. May he RIP!!
I can’t put into words how sorry we are. Our hearts and prayers go out to you and your family. 💕💕
We are so very sorry about John’s passing. He was such a kind and amazing guy, always greeted people with a warm and welcoming smile. We feel very blessed and honored that we got to know him. Please know we are thinking of all of you during this painful time. Keeping you in our prayers!
My heart aches… for the brevity of a life so beautifully lived, and for the grief and loss that John’s wife, children, grandchildren, and brothers are navigating. May God surround you all with His abundant love and the love of all of your people!
Eternal rest grant unto John, O Lord, and may your Perpetual Light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Our hearts go out to all of you! John was one of the friendliest, most welcoming guys we ever knew! Kim, you & John were a great team, along with your terrific children! Many prayers for all of you.
I sit still in disbelief after learning a life so full of promise has been cut short. I worked with John at Metro Transit where I observed his approach to life held much integrity. I enjoyed hearing tales of his family shared with much pride. He will be dearly missed even as his fine examples in living will remain with us. Our hearts go out to his family in this difficult time.
My last, beautiful memory of John was the group hug with Kim and as many friends as we could get into his loving embrace. He will be a continuing inspiration for many people. Eternal rest grant onto him, oh, Lord, and may Perpetual Light shine upon him. May his soul, and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Deo gratias.
God saw that John was getting tired
And a cure was not to be,
So he put his arms around him
And whispered
“Come with me”
With tearful eyes we
Watched him suffer
And saw him fade away
although we loved him dearly,
we could not make John stay.
A golden heart
Stopped beating.
Hard working hands to rest.
God broke our
hearts to prove to us:
He only takes the best.
We will miss you John
Beautifully stated, Jim and Tammy!
Mark and I will miss John so much!
Our unending love and prayers go out to you,
Kim, and your family.
Our deepest condolences to Kim and the entire Humphrey family.
I can’t put into words the sorrow I feel for the loss of my dear cousin John. My prayers go out to his family and close friends in this time of grieving.
Wayne and I are thinking of you today and in the days ahead. We feel fortunate that we had the chance to know and work with John at Metro Transit. We know him as a good and kind man — with an ability to know people and treat them fairly. We are glad we knew him and he knew us.
Words are hard to express at this trying time. John, the Humphrey family and friends will be in our prayers and thoughts.
Rest In Peace John. You were a great transit guy and a better person. Until we meet again.
I am heartbroken. John was a close and trusted friend. I spoke to John nearly every day for the last 10 years. As I think back on those conversations the best ones were about caring for people. Many times it was about our employees and other times it was about our customers. That was always foremost in his mind. I will always treasure the memories of our time together.
A truly fine man and a great leader. Never too busy to take or return a call, always willing to listen, and a source of common sense (where it was often lacking). An absolutely phenomenal human being that those around him enjoyed being with and his absense leaves a hole that will never be filled. Rest in peace my friend.
I am at a loss for words. He truly was the epitome of the human that cared for all. He always made time for a hello and a smile. This world and MT will have a huge loss that cannot be filled.
I’m so sad to hear this news. I knew John for all the 30+ years that he worked at Metro Transit. I haven’t see him since I retired 2 years ago. John is one of the greatest people I ever knew. Such a fun personality. This is such a sad loss. My heart goes out to his entire family, and everyone who knew him.
John was my direct boss twice at Metro Transit. He was a deeply good man, whose vibrant spirit uplifted everyone. He was a friend and mentor to me and a man I tried to emulate in my own leadership and in life. I have vivid memories of his booming voice, endlessly positive energy, generosity, and empathy. I will miss him beyond measure.
Known John most my metro transit career. Was a great mentor to me. Help me through some tough times.
I am sadden at loss of a true friend and leader. John was always a good listener, and provided meaningful advice that has guided me throughout my career as well as in life. I will miss him. May GOD keep watch over his family, and be a comfort during this time of grief. In my prayers.
John was a tremendously kind and friendly man, always ready to help a co-worker. He will be missed.
It is heartbreaking to accept that John is gone. He was a great friend and I’ll miss him dearly. His smile and laugh were second to none. I feel fortunate that our paths in life came together for so many years but wish we had more ahead. Kim and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Rest In Peace, John.
Although I just recently met John, the obituary certainly reflected who he was. Strong, poite and forward thinking. My condolences to the extended family.
Part of us went with you
The day you left your home. ~ Author Unknown
I am so sorry to hear of John’s passing. John was a great friend and co-worker, who I am lucky to have known. He always had a positive attitude and an infectious smile. My sincere condolences go out to the entire Humphrey family.
John was bigger than life. I had the privilege to meet him and work with him for years on light rail issues. His passing is a loss for many.
I was shocked to learn of John’s passing through our company newsletter. I knew John when we were bus drivers at MJR Garage together. He was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Always had a kind word for everyone, and greeted you with a smile and “Hi” + your first name! Even after he advanced into Management, he never forgot the rest of us who didn’t. Condolences to his family, especially his wife. I never knew her, but he had made several comments over the years how dedicated he was to her and how she was his dream girl come true.
I am so very sorry to hear of John’s passing. He was a wonderful person who I enjoyed working with on light rail within the City of Mpls. Sending my deepest condolences to all who are feeling this tremendous loss.
I remember the first time I met John on the Franklin Street platform. You never forget that smile. Working with him for 13 years was an honor. He was passionate about life. He was also a great friend and someone I could talk to about work and family. He spoke so lovingly of his wife and kids. Kim and family – I am so sorry for your loss. He was a great guy and I will miss him deeply.
Very saddened to hear of John’s passing at only 57 years old. I worked with John briefly on a transit project and came to realize that he was very thoughtful, logical and cooperative. My condolences to his family.
I am saddened to hear of John’s passing. John always had a positive attitude and a smile on his face. He was a great person to work with and a dedicated public servant. His presence will certainly be missed. My condolences to all his family, friends, and co-workers.
John’s passing is just heartbreaking for everyone who knew him. He was always willing to go above and beyond to help anyone he came in contact with. I am still in such disbelief that he is no longer with us on earth. My deepest condolences go to Kim, his children, grandchildren and brothers on their loss.
I shall always remember what a great friend John was. Leaders like John are hard to find. Rest In Peace my friend. Until we meet again.
John was a great friend and mentor for me. I am glad to have gotten to know a man like John. May God give his family patience to endure his passing. John will be missed.
From driving the bus to the transition to Light Rail, working with John was always a positive experience. Quick with a compliment and always a good laugh. Memories that will never die. John was a great leader. He modeled his values for us all. Our hearts are saddened with his loss, but our loss is Heavens gain. Rest in Peace John, you have earned your ultimate reward.
Working with Maria and Christina and listening to them talk about their family and Dad, I know he was someone everyone should have known. Our deepest sympathy and prayers to the family.
I’m saddened to hear about John’s passing. So many people at Metro Transit considered him not only a colleague, but a friend. I had the pleasure of working with him for many years and will always remember his kind guidance and warm smile. We were all blessed to know him for this short period in time. I truly hope that someday the pain will subside and you can find peace in his memory. Prayers to you during this difficult time.
Stunned doesn’t cover the emotion when I heard of John’s passing. John was one of those people that truly lived by example, with heart and dedication. I appreciated the working relationship that we had and admired him as a leader and friend. John will be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out foremost to the Humphrey family, but also to the Metro Transit family.
In my experience, John could always be counted on to do the next right thing. Not the easy thing – the right thing. We had many conversations, about work, hunting, fishing, family, and our Catholic faith. We are all better for having known him. I know I am. John will be missed. Sincerest condolences to all who feel the loss, especially Kim and the family.
My condolences to John’s family, such a tragic loss for us all. Seems like only yesterday we were opening the Hiawatha Line. John and I shared a train on opening day. What a fun day that was! May he rest in peace, a life well lived.
I too was very sad to learn of John’s passing! My sympathy to Kim, John’s children, grandchildren, and his brothers, especially Tom who I know. I had the good fortune to work with John during his time at Rail. He truly was one of the nicest people I worked with at Metro Transit! He was a very competent manager and was always willing to help others at Metro Transit!. John will be missed by so many!
My condolences to the Humphrey family and sharing my memories of John, what a positive force and good influence he is! A smile and a greeting, every time we met. He made things good for us at Metro Transit and everyone beyond! The positive strong energy that is John must go on forever, even as he walks on. Thank you, John!
My condolences to your family. Johnn! & you would say Craiggg! The personal connection we shared in exchange of our names was special to me. There are so many things I want to say that I believe I did not get to share with you. RIH John
My deepest sympathies to John’s family. I am grateful that I got to work with John on various projects. His dedication to transit excellence and his always positive attitude made the work a joyful learning experience. He also welcomed me to a new job, place, and culture. His memory will continue to be an shining example for me.
My condolences to John’s family. John was a brilliant leader and a true friend. John taught me that family is always first, he taught me how to be a better leader and how the job should always be done, and he taught me that the Beartooth Mountain Pass is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I will truly miss our conversations about our hobbies. I will greatly miss your drive for all of us to be 110%. You will truly be missed.
John’s dedication was not to work per se, it was to helping people. That is why he was the best at what he did. Our prayers for his family and friends. He will be missed.
We all lost a giant leader with positive attitude. My deepest condolences to his family and I’ll truly miss his big smile.
I was fortunate to cross paths with John several times over many years at work, and agree with all the accolades expressed here. John truly was a stand up guy with a big heart and great leadership skills. Condolences also to John’s brother, Tom, another good man.
My friend and colleague, John, was a prince of a man. His strength of character and kindness was ever-present. I was fortunate to have worked with him at Metro Transit for 30 years. My heart goes out to Johns family, friends and co-workers. Rest in peace, my friend.
Kim and kids …. I’m so sorry for your loss. You should know that John was a great man. He was fair and respected by many. He was a friend and I had the honor of working with John for many years. I could tell that he loved you all very much as our conversations in the RCC would often center around his family. I will continue to pray for the Humphrey Family asking for peace. Your dad was a cool guy, a great leader, a friend, and someone I looked up to. Rest in peace.
Rest easy John gone way to soon ….
John was not only a trusted colleague but a thoughtful and caring friend. I’ll miss his smile, patience while working through tough problems, and his positive approach to life and work. This is a great loss! Much love to his family.
Mark & Kim Leemon
Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Kim and her family. John has always had an upbeat attitude and great sense of humor. John will be missed.
Kim – I’m so terribly sad for you and your family with the loss of John. It is so tragic. I pray you will sense God’s comfort as you grieve. John will be restored, you will be with him again. Again, I’m so sorry.
I am deeply saddened by the loss that you and your family have encountered. My condolences
So long ‘JOHN
I volunteer with Maria and Christina at our pro-life clinic. Maria and Tina talked so lovingly of their parents and their dad’s faith in Our Lord. Because of their dad’s deep & complete faith in God’s plan for each of us; Maria & Christina passed this belief to others when we visited. I could always tell that their dad, John, had a very loving & positive influence in each of their lives through Christ. What a wonderful testament to his family. Just as God and Jesus will always be with the family; so will their loving dad, husband, grandparent & brother, John.
John and Kim had a profound effect on the rest of us as we all observed a life well lived. I have great memories of my dear cousin, visiting his family home, and attending the same high school. His smile lit up the halls of Saint Agnes. Now as I say my goodbye to John I wish to offer my deepest condolences to John’s dear wife Kim, their children and brothers of this great man.
A good man. A family man. That is how I always knew John. I will always remember his guidance when we opened the Green Line, riding in the test trains through St Paul before opening day. A photo of he and I was on the front webpage of MPR on the first train out of Union Depot on Green Line’s opening day. What a class act. John was one of a kind and a truly decent human being.
My prayers and thoughts are with the entire Humphrey family during this time. My limited interaction with both John and Tom always left me impressed with their knowledge, cooperative spirit and leadership. I truly enjoyed working with both of them. They will be greatly missed at the Met Council.
Although I knew Tom the best, I had met John only a few times, it was so obvious they were cut from the same mold. The world around them will always be touched so deeply by their memories.
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