JOHN A. GAYLORD March 18, 1918 – April 4, 2018 John A. Gaylord, age 100, of Osakis, MN, formerly of Wadena, MN, passed from this life to eternal life on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at the Lakeside Lodge Adult Foster Care near Osakis, MN with his loved ones at his side. John was born to Samuel and Phylliss Gaylord on March 18, 1918 in Chicago, IL. He lived his early years in Hudson, Ohio where he attended the Western Reserve Academy and the Miami University of Ohio. As a young man he ventured to Jacksonville, FL where he was employed building ships. In 1943, he joined the Merchant Marines where he served in the Mediterranean Ocean, The North Atlantic Ocean and the Sea of Japan during World War II. Following his honorable discharge, John moved to Minneapolis where he worked a long and successful career in sales for the Goodyear Tire Company. He met and married the love of his life, Viola Frisbie on March 5, 1952. They moved to Wadena, MN in 1972 where he resided until 2013 when he moved to the Lakeside Lodge Adult Foster Care near Osakis, MN. John was a loyal MN Twins Baseball Fan, he enjoyed playing golf, collecting stamps, playing chess, reading and working on crossword puzzles. Above all, John’s family came first. He was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by his family. John will be lovingly remembered by his daughter, Ellen (Nolan) Bacon of Wadena; his sister, Phylliss and brothers: Sam (Paula), and Richard all of Florida; his grandchildren: Brett (Marybeth) Bacon, Lee (Gretchen) Bacon, Dana (Michelle) Bacon, Travis (Kerry)Bacon and Nola Schultz; brother-in-law, Lyle Bushsinger; sister-in-law’s: Lorraine and Joyce Loween; 13 great grandchildren and 14 great great grandchildren; his dearly loved care givers: Diane, Don and family and Marge; as well as many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his true love, Viola Gaylord; his parents: Sam & Phylliss; his parents in-law, Olaf and Delile Loween; 2 sisters: Jean and Rosemary; grandson, Laurence; great granddaughter, Liv Ana; four brothers-in-law: Harold and Kenny Loween, Jim Thaggard, Jack Alstott; sister-in-law, Fern Bushinger; nephews: Dale Loween and Clark Meech and a grandnephew, Darren Rathcke. Funeral services will be held 3 PM Saturday, April 21, 2018 at the Joyful Spirit United Methodist Church in Wadena, MN with the Reverend Lee Kantonen officiating. The pianist will be Kathleen Schwarts-Dahl. Congregational hymns will be: “In The Garden” and “This World Is Not My Home”. The bearers will be: Brett Bacon, Lee Bacon, Nola Schultz, Dana Bacon, Travis Bacon and Dennis Loween. Military honors will be conducted by the Wadena VFW Post. Interment will be made next to his wife, Viola. Arrangments were entrusted to the Cardini-Pearson Funeral Home of Menahga, MN. To leave on line condolences please visit www.cardinipearson.com.