Obituary for John Cameron Carter, Jr.
Video of Pastor Carter's service is now available via St Martin's Church website at stmartinschurch.com and click on service video for Pastor John Carter. Or go to the Photos and Videos tab scroll down to webcasting.
As soon as the link is a available Wight & Comes will provide the link. Thank you for your understanding.***
Pastor John Carter Jr., age 62, of Watertown, SD, passed away after a battle with cancer on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 surrounded by his wife and children at Ava's House (hospice) in Sioux Falls, SD.
There will be a small private family service at St. Martin's Ev. Lutheran Church officiated by Rev. Paul Janke with plans for a public memorial service at a later date. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown, SD.
John Cameron Carter, Jr. was born May 30, 1957 in Joliet, Illinois to John C. and Magdeline (Quade) Carter, Sr. He grew up in Lemont, Illinois where he attended grade school and graduated from high school in 1975. From there he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois for two years studying Radio & Television, and then transferred to Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. John was united in marriage with Lauran “Lori” Surdick on August 30, 1980 at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Watertown, Wisconsin. John then attended Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin and graduated in 1986 with a Masters of Divinity.
John moved his family to Watertown, South Dakota in 1986 when he was assigned as associate pastor at St. Martin's Ev. Lutheran Church. He served the members of St. Martin's for his entire 33 ½ year ministry.
John was very active and loved spending time with his family, especially his three grandchildren! He enjoyed brewing beer with his sons and camping with his family and friends. John enjoyed woodworking, especially designing and building mission style furniture. He played guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and played in numerous bands throughout the years, most recently with the local band Relatively Painless. He loved making music with his daughter, Stephanie and his close friends. He also was an avid Chicago sports fan (but not the White Sox)!
John will be missed by his loving wife, Lori of 39 years; his children, Jennifer (Matt) Evenson of Arthur, ND, Eric Carter of Sioux Falls, SD, Brian Carter of Watertown, SD and Stephanie (Ryan) Gibbs of Watertown, SD; his mother, Magdeline Carter of Watertown, SD; his precious grandchildren, Lily and Sadie Evenson, and Kai Gibbs; his mother-in-law Mabel Surdick of Watertown, WI and his many brothers/sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, John C. Carter Sr. and his father-in-law John J. Surdick Sr.
Active pallbearers are Eric Carter, Brian Carter, Matt Evenson, Jim Surdick, Tom Surdick, Bill Surdick, Mark Harris and Leonard Reinke.
Honorary pallbearers are Ryan Gibbs, Jack Surdick, Howie Surdick, Marcos Avila, Kevin Bergdol and Don Sellnow.
As soon as the link is a available Wight & Comes will provide the link. Thank you for your understanding.***
Pastor John Carter Jr., age 62, of Watertown, SD, passed away after a battle with cancer on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 surrounded by his wife and children at Ava's House (hospice) in Sioux Falls, SD.
There will be a small private family service at St. Martin's Ev. Lutheran Church officiated by Rev. Paul Janke with plans for a public memorial service at a later date. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Watertown, SD.
John Cameron Carter, Jr. was born May 30, 1957 in Joliet, Illinois to John C. and Magdeline (Quade) Carter, Sr. He grew up in Lemont, Illinois where he attended grade school and graduated from high school in 1975. From there he attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois for two years studying Radio & Television, and then transferred to Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. John was united in marriage with Lauran “Lori” Surdick on August 30, 1980 at Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church in Watertown, Wisconsin. John then attended Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin and graduated in 1986 with a Masters of Divinity.
John moved his family to Watertown, South Dakota in 1986 when he was assigned as associate pastor at St. Martin's Ev. Lutheran Church. He served the members of St. Martin's for his entire 33 ½ year ministry.
John was very active and loved spending time with his family, especially his three grandchildren! He enjoyed brewing beer with his sons and camping with his family and friends. John enjoyed woodworking, especially designing and building mission style furniture. He played guitar, banjo, and mandolin, and played in numerous bands throughout the years, most recently with the local band Relatively Painless. He loved making music with his daughter, Stephanie and his close friends. He also was an avid Chicago sports fan (but not the White Sox)!
John will be missed by his loving wife, Lori of 39 years; his children, Jennifer (Matt) Evenson of Arthur, ND, Eric Carter of Sioux Falls, SD, Brian Carter of Watertown, SD and Stephanie (Ryan) Gibbs of Watertown, SD; his mother, Magdeline Carter of Watertown, SD; his precious grandchildren, Lily and Sadie Evenson, and Kai Gibbs; his mother-in-law Mabel Surdick of Watertown, WI and his many brothers/sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, John C. Carter Sr. and his father-in-law John J. Surdick Sr.
Active pallbearers are Eric Carter, Brian Carter, Matt Evenson, Jim Surdick, Tom Surdick, Bill Surdick, Mark Harris and Leonard Reinke.
Honorary pallbearers are Ryan Gibbs, Jack Surdick, Howie Surdick, Marcos Avila, Kevin Bergdol and Don Sellnow.