*John C. “Jack” Morgenson, 85, died Oct. 24, 2014, in St. George, Utah. Jack was born in Rochester, Minn., on Aug. 9, 1929. He attended grade school and high school in Rochester, where he was a standout athlete in basketball and golf, graduating in the famous Class of 1947. Jack attended St. Olaf College, where he continued his athletic interests, pursued his B.A. degree, and met his future wife, Margretta “Gretta” Olson Morgenson ’53. He graduated from St. Olaf in 1951 and married Gretta in December 1952. He served a tour of duty in the Marine Corps as a lieutenant during the Korean “conflict.” Jack worked most of his business career with the JC Penney Company. In his 31 years at Penney’s, he and Gretta were located in many places throughout the country, and he held numerous management positions while advancing to the vice president level. He retired in 1986 in Plano, Texas.

During his retirement years, Jack was active in consulting assignments for the State Department, working in Poland and Russia. He developed an interest in private flying, found new time to spend with his family, and further developed his golf skills. In his later years of retirement, Jack and Gretta spent their summers at Long Lake in Park Rapids, Minn. Throughout his life, Jack was known for his loyalty and generosity to all his family and friends. He was a loving husband, caring father, and a wonderful example of a godly man. He will be missed by many.

In addition to his wife, Gretta, of 62 years, Jack is survived by sons, John and wife Joyleen, and Eric and wife Gina; daughters, Monica Sivakumar and husband Pip, and Erica Holland and husband Bryan; brother, Donald Morgenson ’50 and wife Leslie; a sister, Marilyn Morgenson Hedstrom ’48 and husband Burt; and nieces and nephews, including Gretchen Morgenson ’76 P ’17, Andrew Hedstrom ’86, John Hedstrom ’86, Peter Hedstrom ’83, Carl Hedstrom ’74, Marin Hedstrom Sprenger ’90 and husband Michael Sprenger ’85, Kari Hedstrom Lorence ’76 and husband Drake Lorence ’76, Mark Hedstrom ’78, and Maria Hedstrom Lien ’92. Jack and Gretta have 19 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Jack was preceded in death by his son, David, in 2010; and by his parents, Einar “Butch” Morgenson, a longtime teacher at Rochester Junior High School and sports announcer for KROC, and Marjorie Morgenson Paul, a sales adviser at CF Massey.

In lieu of flowers, family prefers memorials to the Wounded Warrior Project, Topeka, Kan. Pleas mention in memory of Jack Morgenson.