John E Lothert

John Elton Lothert, age 82, of Franklin, MN, peacefully passed away on Friday, March 27, 2026, at home with his family at his side.

Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls, MN, with burial to follow in the Morton City Cemetery, Morton, MN. Visitation will be held from 9:00 - 11:00 AM on the day of the service at the church.  Full Military Honors will be presented by Olivia - Bird Island American Legion and VFW following the service.

The Nelson-Hillestad Funeral and Cremation Service of Redwood Falls and Morgan are in charge of the arrangements. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com.

John Elton Lothert, born November 22, 1943, to Pearl and Elgar Lothert, lived a life defined by love, family, and adventure. A dedicated farmer and aviator, John was a man of skill, curiosity, and generosity. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend whose presence brought joy to all who knew him.

John was united in marriage to the love of his life, Gloria Jean Herdina, on May 10, 1968. From the beginning, he swept Gloria off her feet, taking her on dates in his airplane and sharing a sense of adventure that would define their life together. They built a home on a farm north of Morton, MN, sharing over 57 years of marriage filled with laughter and hard work. They raised five children and are proud grandparents to 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, all of whom loved and adored their grandfather and will remember his legacy of warmth, kindness, and sense of humor.

Among John’s greatest joys were spending time with family and friends, farming, hunting and fishing. After tending the farm, he also loved tearing down the road on Sundays after church with a carload of kids to burn the carbon out of his engine - a playful reminder of his adventurous spirit and love for fun. John was a talented bowler earning multiple trophies throughout the years and obtaining a high score of 279. Though John faced many health challenges over the years, he met each one with courage and resilience, motivated by the strong support of his family. Whether exploring the skies in his youth, sharing stories with friends and neighbors, or creating memories with family, John touched countless lives with his generosity, wisdom, and witty humor.

John served his country as a member of the National Guard. He also served his community as an elder of the Morton Zion Lutheran Church and as a director of the Renville-Sibley REA; both of a span of 10 years.

He is survived by his loving wife, Gloria; his twin sister, Jan (Jeff) Laurel; his five children, Teresa (Kit) Gess, Jeffrey (Becky) Lothert, Lynette (Gary) Motzko, Lance (Heather) Lothert, and Craig Lothert; his ten grandchildren, Jade, Paige (Andrew), John (Hannah), Shylyn (Joshua), Brooke (AJ), Mackenzie (Devon), Casey, Nicholas, Isaak (Lexie), and Craig Jr.; three great-grandchildren, Chloe, Atlas, Elowyn, and expected Hattie Jo; his nieces and nephews, plus many, many Herdina in-laws.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Pearl and Elgar; his brother, William; and sister in-law Imogene.

John’s family loved him dearly and will miss him deeply. His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. Blessed be his memory.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mayo Clinic for multiple sclerosis (MS) and cancer research, American Cancer Society Hope Lodge Rochester, or a charity of choice.