Pastor John E. Quam died peacefully in Minneapolis, Minn., after a short illness. He was born at home on January 31, 1931, in Randall, Iowa to Nels and Thora (Larsen) Quam and died October 4, 2023, at Jones-Harrison Senior Living on Cedar Lake.

A Lutheran Pastor for more than 60 years, John was a man of deep devotion – to his wife Louise, their four children, fourteen grandchildren, and four great grandchildren; to his calling as a parish pastor; to sports, which he played as a varsity athlete in college and refereed well into his 80s; and to his Norwegian ancestry, often on display in the classic Norwegian sweaters he wore.

A desire to help others was manifest throughout John’s life. After studying at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, he was ordained in 1957 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minn., and went on to serve in parishes in Minnesota and Iowa. These included the three-point parish of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Henning, Elmo Lutheran Church and Folden Lutheran Church in Otter Tail County, (1957-1960); St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Marshall, Minn., (1963-1988); and First Lutheran Church in Manchester, Iowa (1989-1996). He spent the last years of his ministry as visitation pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minn. (1997-2017), retiring at age 86.

John had a scholarly mind, a precise memory and a profound interest in history. But his family always came first.  He graduated magna cum laude from St. Olaf College in 1953, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He married St. Olaf graduate Louise Estelle Hammer on June 17, 1956. That same year he was awarded, but declined, a Fulbright fellowship to study in Norway, so he could help Louise care for an ailing family member.

From 1960 to 1963, John studied at the Yale Divinity School. He received his M.A. in 1962 and his Ph.D. in 1968 from Yale, both in Religious Studies.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Louise Quam, and children Joel Quam (Vivian) of Lombard, Ill.; Lois Quam (Arshad Mohammed) of St. Paul, Minn. and Washington, DC; David Quam of Milwaukee, Wis.; and son-in-law Jim Herbers of Rochester, Minn. He was predeceased by his daughter Mary Quam Herbers.

He is survived by 14 grandchildren: Justin Quam of St. Paul, Minn.; Ben Quam (Jayne Reynolds) of St Paul, Minn.; Cassandra Quam (Nate Dexter) of St Paul, Minn.; Will Quam (Nikki McConnell) of Oak Park, Ill.; Steve Quam (Laura Tucker) of St. Paul, Minn.; Jacob Herbers of Chicago, Ill.; Laura Herbers (Chase Adelsman) of St. Paul, Minn.; Seth Quam of St. Paul, Minn.; Katherine Quam of Milwaukee, Wis.; Brett Herbers (Joe Sogard) of Minneapolis, Minn.; Aziz Mohammed of Los Angeles, Calif.; John Quam of Canton, Ohio; Sophia Mohammed of Philadelphia, Pa.; and Daniel Quam of Milwaukee, Wis.

He is survived by great grandchildren Noah Quam Reynolds, Cora Quam Tucker, Renee Nicole Dexter, and Felix Quam Tucker of St. Paul, Minn.

His brother Paul Quam (Johanna) of Seattle, Wash. and Grand Junction, Colo. and their children Alison Lehner Quam (Matthias Lehner) of New York; Cynthia Quam Patterson (Barry) of Seattle, Wis., and Tim Quam of Edmonds, Wash. survive him.

Funeral services will be 3 p.m., Thursday, October 12, 2023, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 500 W. 3rd Street, Northfield.  Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. and a reception will follow the service.  Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery, Northfield. 

Memorials are preferred to the Marshall Public Schools’ Pride in the Tiger Foundation designated for the Mary Quam Herbers award.  (https://prideinthetiger.org/), Marshall High School, 400 Tiger Drive, Marshall, MN 56258

Arrangements are with the Bierman, Benson & Langehough Funeral Home.  www.northfieldfuneral.com