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swMN | proplock, he didn't post often but he was on here quite often, I've known him personally for many years, he was quite a fellow.
John Henry Nauerth, III Obituary
A Celebration of Life to honor the legacy of John Henry Nauerth III, age 83, of Lakefield, will be held Friday, November 7th at 1 pm at the United Methodist Church of Lakefield.
A visitation for John will be held on Friday from 11:00am to 1:00 pm prior to services.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred in John’s memory to an organization of your choice.
John Henry Nauerth III was born on November 20th, 1941, in Lakefield, Minnesota to the late John Henry, Jr. and Gladys Sophia (Fleck) Nauerth. John grew up on the family farm southwest of Lakefield where he lived and farmed his entire life. John was baptized and confirmed in the Methodist faith in Lakefield. John graduated from Lakefield High School, class of 1959. During that time, he met and courted Phyllis Ann Orluske. When she returned from college, they were united in marriage on July 29th, 1962. The couple settled on the farm known as Nauerthland Ranch.
John and Phyllis lived in the small house on the farm until Johns parents moved to Lakefield and they moved into the big brick home. They were blessed with two children: Daniel James of Worthington, MN and Michelle Jon of Raleigh, NC. During their tenure on the farm, they raised hogs, cattle, and sheep, along with row crops. In later years, when they weren’t busy, they liked to travel around the country and they made it a point to stay off the interstate to take in the scenery on the backroads.
John was a very unique individual—a farmer, mechanic, inventor, pilot, volunteer, and steward of the public interest. Self-taught in most of the trades and endeavors he took up, he learned many lessons through trial and error. He fabricated all manner of implements and tools for use in his work. After high school, John served in the Army National Guard. In later years, he became an active member of the American Legion. He also served on the Rost Township Board, volunteered as an election judge, and was vigilant in defending private property and drainage rights. His community involvement was never self-aggrandizing. Every now and then, John would “get himself into something”—in his own pursuits or in community endeavors—and it often took considerable time, effort, and sometimes a little help from his associates to sort it out. John had a lifetime of stories, each recalled in his own way, often with eyebrows raised, one or both hands at work, and a serious, measured voice.
John enjoyed working in the dirt and installing drain tile. If you drove past his farms, there was a good chance you’d see his tiling truck and backhoe at work. He took pride in the drainage systems he installed to improve his own and others’ farms. These quiet, often unseen contributions remain buried in the fields around Lakefield. One fall in the 1980s, John began working with the Emil Buresch family to get the harvest finished, and they continued working together for the next forty years. Everyone who worked with John gained a special appreciation for him, and he was especially close with the children on the farm. Over the years, there were many laughs, more than a few struggles, and some painful tears—but through it all, those challenges brought them closer together. Such is farming.
John had a lifelong love affair with flight. In the early 70’s and 80’s John spent a great amount of time building and flying RC model airplanes and when the wind was just right, he would leave the farm early. He flew with clubs out of Spirit Lake and Windom. He eventually earned his private pilot’s license and bought a Cessna 150 with Lee Swanson in the mid 1990s, which he flew well into his eighties—often departing from the airstrip on his own farm. He enjoyed traveling to Wisconsin for the EAA Convention in Oshkosh and the annual Pietenpol Reunion in Brodhead, WI, as well as many other fly-in gatherings within the aviation community.
John’s life was full of hard-won experiences, dedication, and a willingness to help others, leaving an enduring mark on those who knew him. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Phyllis Nauerth of Lakefield, MN; son Daniel and daughter Michelle; the extended Buresch families of Byron, Mike, and Pauline of Lakefield; many dear friends; and a grateful community. He was preceded in death by his parents; and infant sister named Jeanette, and many friends and family
Edited by jimjr 12/13/2025 22:13
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NAT lost a member
