John A. Varner

John (Jack) Albert Varner was born on April 12, 1933, to Margaret F. (Benedict) Varner and Peter A. Varner in Fargo, North Dakota. He was raised with his younger sister, Dolores, in Wheatland, North Dakota, where he graduated from high school. Jack developed an interest in music at a young age. He accompanied his parents to dances every Saturday night, where he learned to polka, waltz, and schottische. When he was old enough to hold an accordion, Jack’s parents drove him to Dilworth, Minnesota for lessons. He learned to play the saxophone from a retired Concordia College band director who traveled around to small towns giving lessons, and he later put this talent to use playing in dance bands in college. His love of clarinet followed. 

Jack earned a B.A. in Music from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks in 1955, and married his college sweetheart Carol Haas. An M.A. in Music from the University of Northern Colorado followed in 1961. He began his fulltime teaching career in Minnesota in 1956, directing band and choir in Waubun, Borup, and Halstad, as well as band in Glenwood and Moorhead. In 1981, Jack taught instrumental music in Fargo public schools until his retirement in 2000. 

Jack’s bands and clarinet choirs earned top ratings at district, regional, and state level contests. His bands performed at Minnesota Music Educators’ Association (MMEA) midwinter clinic in Minneapolis. In 1993, his Agassiz seventh-grade advanced band was selected to perform a concert and a clinic on teaching techniques at the mid-winter convention of the Music Educators’ National Conference. 

In addition to teaching, Jack has served his profession in a number of ways: as chairman of the Minnesota State High School League Contest List Committee, as regional representative on the MMEA board of directors, as MMEA Vice President. For fifteen years, he served frequently as adjudicator for district and state music contests, and throughout his career, Jack conscientiously gave guidance and support to many student teachers. 

Jack enjoyed fishing with his grandparents, children, and grandchildren. He played cards, loved gardening, and over the years dabbled in oil painting, HAM radio, bowling, and golf. He built and launched many model rockets with his grandchildren. A lover of humor, Jack kept his family laughing at his jokes (especially #54). 

Jack passed away peacefully at the age of 91 on August 11, 2024, after a long journey with Alzheimer’s disease surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Carol (Haas) Varner, Alexandria; sister, Dolores Mason of California; children, Jackie (David) Feil, Cindy (Sam) Wagner, and Peggy (Glen) Morken; grandchildren, Christina (Dave) Krist, Nick Wagner, Chris (Rose) Wagner, Connor (Caitlin) Neill, and Ramona Neill; step-grandchildren, Mara (Jody) Morken Mousseau and Kaleb Morken; great-grandchildren, Remi, Isadora, Jasper, Avery, Jack, Dahlia, Glen, Violet, and Michael. 

A Visitation for John will be on Friday, August 16, 2024, from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM, in Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, followed by a Graveside Service in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Moorhead. 

The Celebration of John’s Life will be on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 2:30 PM, in First Lutheran Church, Alexandria, MN.

(Korsmo Funeral and Cremation Service, Moorhead, MN)