John Willard Champine

Just a small-town boy, born and raised in south Fairmont, John Champine lived a cosmopolitan and full 75 years, until he quickly succumbed to a rare cancer while at home on July 2, 2021. Born 1946, John was raised with a small town life, surrounded by lakes, farms, good neighbors, and using the "correct" names for items like pop and hotdish. After graduating from Fairmont High School in 1964, he attended the University of Minnesota, and though a gifted violinist who was offered a music scholarship, he graduated with degrees in Theater, French, English, and History. By 1968, he had "the good sense" in his words, to marry Lynn, his love of 55 years. They put down deep roots in the Twin Cities, as they raised their children, Nathan and Natalie, and cultivated a large circle of friends. John started his long career in the then nascent computer industry at Sperry Univac. In various roles, he rose quickly from programming data cards, to being a Teacher in computer education and ended as Manager in the software development division. Sperry offered him far-flung fun opportunities working in El Paso, TX (White Sands Missile Range), South Africa, London, until settling back in Burnsville and later Prior Lake. He also was extremely proud of his later supercomputer work with Cray Research, and roles with NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs, Datacard, Vital Images, and finally retiring from Thomas Reuters. John was an early member, and later chair, of the U of MN's Computer Science Department Advisory Board. His hobbies were myriad, including boating, golf, cards, photography, debating current events and politics, seeing airshows and WWII warbirds, and travel, especially taking cruises. He loved ancestry and finding origins to his and others' family tree. Long-term residents of Prior Lake, John and Lynn later became true snowbirds wintering in Arizona, spending time with many new friends. He is preceded in death by his mother, Genevieve; father, Ashley Floyd "Ted"; and brothers Charles and George Champine. He is survived by his wife, Lynn; Son, Nathan (Adrian); Daughter, Natalie (Charles) Rhoden; and the grandchildren who called him 'Papa' - Julian, John, Connor and Genevieve. He also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and dear friends. All will miss his kind soul, stories, laughter, and the many fun days hosting and entertaining in their Prior Lake home. Visitation will be on Friday, July 16 from 4-7pm at Holy Trinity United Methodist Church in Prior Lake. Funeral services will be on Saturday, July 17 at 11am at Washburn-McReavy, Dawn Valley Chapel in Bloomington, MN. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed by John's family in his memory.

Tributes

John Willard Champine

February 14, 1946 - July 2, 2021

Tributes

John Willard Champine

February 14, 1946 - July 2, 2021

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