John Harold Hougen

John (Jack) Hougen passed away April 27, 2026 at the age of 101. He was preceded in death by his wife Jeane in 2014. Jack is survived by his children, Judy, Janice (Luis), and John (Jinger), grandchildren Justin, Jennifer (Todd), Johanna (Matt), and John (Hannah), along with great-grandchildren Ella, Jack, Owen, and Elena. Jack was born in Crookston, Minnesota, in 1924, to John Hougen and Kate Peterson Hougen, spending his early years living in Fisher, Bemidji, and the Minneapolis area. He graduated from the University of Minnesota and later the Army War College. He was a career military officer, achieving the rank of colonel, who saw combat in WW II, Korea, and Viet Nam. He was a highly decorated soldier who received numerous awards for his service, including, the Silver Star (third highest medal for valor in battle) and the Bronze Star (fourth highest individual medal for valor in battle). Jack retired from the military in 1976, settling in Edina, Minnesota, with his wife Jeane, the love of his life. Among other duties, he directed the ROTC program at Cretin High School in St. Paul before retiring permanently. Throughout the years, Jack enjoyed golfing, handball, playing bridge, and reading books on military history. He was a patriarch within the larger Hougen family, attending numerous Hougen Family reunions over many decades, serving as a host of the reunion in 2016. He was a long-time member of Oliver Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, eventually attending Hope Presbyterian when the Oliver congregation merged with Hope. In addition, Jack was honored to be a member of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities, serving on various committees and as the Moderator for one year. His favorite outdoor activities were hunting pheasants, geese, and ducks and an annual fishing trip to Canada. He loved the camaraderie of those hunting trips in the fall with good friends and family members, and his dogs Sophie and Rocky. Every summer, Jack looked forward to guided fishing excursions in Canada, accompanied, in recent years, by his son and grandsons. He cast his line one last time into a Canadian lake when he was 99. These hunting and fishing trips were the source of many of his best memories. In the fall of 2024, Jack transitioned to an independent senior living apartment at Eaglecrest in Roseville, enjoying new acquaintances and the weekly ice cream social. A year and a half later, he moved into the assisted living building at Eaglecrest where he resided until his passing. Jack was humble, unassuming, generous, a patriot, and a man of deep and quiet faith. He took the challenges of old age in stride, rarely complaining, even in the face of setbacks and difficulties. The hole his passing creates in our lives is large, but we remain grateful for all the years he was given and the steady influence he has had on the lives of his family and friends. Jack leaves behind a legacy of sacrificial service, generosity, and fidelity. He will be dearly missed, but we are all better for having known him. Jack's memorial service will be held Thursday, June 18, 11:00 am, at Washburn-McReavy Hillside Chapel in Minneapolis, followed by a luncheon, and graveside service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Minneapolis.

John Harold Hougen

September 26, 1924 - April 27, 2026

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