John Joseph Obowa

John Joseph Obowa, 84, died in Aurdal Township on February 4, 2026. He was born on June 26, 1941 at the Imholte home to Joseph and Cassilda (neé Imholte) Obowa in Aastad Township near Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The family moved to Aurdal Township when John was two years old, which remained his home area.

John served in the Army of the United States. He married Patricia Bergerud in 1966.

John Obowa was featured many times in newspapers in the Fergus Falls, MN area. Articles included his work with his horses, Border collies, peacocks and mules relative to farm life and the preservation of pioneer farming. John lived on his farm near Wall Lake east of Fergus Falls. John purchased his first race horse in Kentucky becoming a breeder and trainer of his race horses. When it opened, he served on the board at Canterbury Downs. John raced his horses in Chicago, Winnipeg along with Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Nebraska as well as Canterbury Downs. John Obowa was on the board of Directors of The Minnesota Thoroughbred Association.

John is remembered by his many friends. He enjoyed giving sleigh rides at the nursing homes in Fergus Falls. He was great at helping anyone who needed his expertise. He lived a simple farmer’s life in so many ways. One of the most notable was when he sided his barn with many colors of siding. Those pieces of siding served the purpose and made his barn look like a quilt. Above all John was noted for his delightful smile and his love for telling stories

After suffering a stroke in 2018 he was cared for by his brother, Tony and his wife Bernie until the last six months when they could no longer care for him. Although he could no longer tell stories, while there, he took pleasure in watching the osprey and riding around in his golf cart. What was most important for John was the visits from his friends.

John was preceded in death by his parents and his oldest sister, Elizabeth.

John is survived by his children Joey Schmidt, Tracy, David (Lorie), and Scott (Kristin) Obowa, grandchildren Alyssa, Kaitlyn, Dylan, Collin, Brandon and Katie, many nieces, nephews, and siblings; Anna Seifert, Mary Cassilda Obowa, OSF, Francis, Anthony (Bernadette), Theresa Overbeck and Judith Gregor, and special friends Jean Sieling and Karen Terry.

Visitation: Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 5-7 P.M., with a 6:30 Prayer Service at the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls.

Mass of Christian Burial: 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 13, 2026, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, with a visitation one hour prior to the services.

Interment: St. Otto’s Catholic Cemetery, Fergus Falls, MN

Funeral arrangements entrusted with the Glende-Nilson Funeral Home of Fergus Falls.