John Fobbe dies at age 100

Maple Lake is mourning the loss of one of its oldest and best- known citizens. John Fobbe, who celebrated his 100th birthday on July 29, died on Monday at his farm north of Maple Lake.

“He wasn’t really ill,” said his son, Paul, “he just ran out of steam.”

On the occasion of Fobbe’s 100th birthday this summer, his family hosted an open house at the Fobbe farm north of Maple Lake, drawing hundreds of family and friends from all over the country to congratulate him on reaching the century mark.

Fobbe was born in 1906 to John and Ellen Ward Fobbe in Maple Lake Township. He worked for two years in the North Dakota harvest fields and for 14 years, he was a wood cutter in the Maple Lake area. In 1939, he married Eleanor Goelz and they rented farms before buying the John Juetten farm in Corinna Township in 1943. The couple raised four children: John Adam, Mary Ann, Janet and Paul. In 1972, Fobbe retired from farming and his son, John, began farming the family farm.

But farming wasn’t Fobbe’s only interest. He was an avid sports enthusiast, especially dedicated to baseball and the Maple Lake High School Irish and Maple Lake Lakers teams. In 2002, he was honored as the Lakers “Fan of the Century.” And that honor was preceded by his selection as Grand Marshal of the 1995 Maple Lake St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

To read more about Fobbe, pick up a copy of the October 11 issue of the Messenger.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply