John "Gordy" Lundskow

John Gordon "Gordy" Lundskow, 88, died peacefully at home on July 20, 2020, surrounded by his loving family. Born November 6, 1931, Gordy was raised in Jackson, Minnesota. He married his hometown sweetheart in 1954. Together they moved to Minneapolis, where Gordy attended the University of Minnesota and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. He accepted engineering positions in California, Ohio and Indiana, before returning to Minnesota to work at Mayo Clinic from 1965 to 1996. He had a distinguished career overseeing the expansion of Mayo's Methodist Hospital, construction of Charter House and developing award-winning energy conservation and preventive maintenance programs. During his tenure, he became a Fellow of the American Society for Hospital Engineering. Gordy was an accomplished musician. As a young man, he sang and arranged Barbershop music. He later pursued Dixieland jazz and played the banjo professionally for 30 years. He performed regularly with the Turkey River All Stars and numerous times on the Delta Queen, Mississippi Queen, the World's Fair in New Orleans, and numerous jazz festivals throughout the Midwest. Gordy was an outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed sailing, camping, hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and canoeing. He built his first sailboat and numerous radio-controlled airplanes, which he enjoyed flying. Devoted to his family, he enjoyed pursuing his hobbies with his wife, children and grandchildren. Gordy was a longtime member of Bethel Lutheran Church. Gordy is preceded in death by his parents, Nels and Ella Lundskow, brother George Luke, and sisters Emma and Gladys. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Marjorie Anne (Toft), son James (granddaughter Patchea), and daughter Karen Lundskow Cook (grandchildren Olivia, Jonathan and Laura). Memorial donations may be made to Mayo Clinic. The family is planning a private burial service in Jackson, Minnesota.