John Fagre, age 49, of Waubun, Minnesota, died Saturday, April 11, 2009 as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Waubun.


John Stanley Fagre was born May 15, 1959 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. He was the son of Stanley and Darlene (Olson) Fagre and step-son of John Bartos.


John attended and graduated from Waubun High School in 1978. After high school, he along with his brother, Jeff and cousin, Doug Nelson joined the United States Navy, spending part of his tour of duty in Scotland and Florida while working in the Navy shipyards.


He married Brenda Little on December 18, 1982 in Macon, Georgia. Although they later divorced, they remained good friends. He was the very proud father of Kayla and Jason.


John spent several years working various jobs in Florida, New York and Wisconsin before returning to the Waubun area in 1992, where he took a position as facilities condition operator at the Shooting Star Casino. For the past three years John made his living "off the land" doing what he loved: logging, leeching, and other odd jobs. He was destined for stardom after his debut with his son, Jason, and brothers on Mike Rowe's Dirty Jobs last October.


"John was John", no excuses, no fronts, always genuine, and that's what made him special. He was definitely "one of a kind."


John is survived by his daughter, Kayla of St. Paul, Minnesota; son, Jason of Avon, Colorado; a friend that he thought of as a son, Anthony "Buddy" LaGue; ex-wife, Brenda Fagre of Minneapolis, Minnesota; two sisters, Val (Dirk) Johnson of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Vickie Heisler of St. Paul, Minnesota; and three brothers: Jeff Fagre, Stanley Fagre, and Randy (Jennifer) Bartos all of Waubun, Minnesota. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews; Andrea and Justin Johnson, Katie, Melany and Jennifer Fagre, Michael Heisler, Melissa, Molly and special nephew and little buddy, Mason Bartos and great niece Kylie Fagre.


John was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley Fagre and Darlene Bartos; step-dad John Bartos; sister, Carrie; and his grandparents.


John was a fun loving, caring and generous person and will be missed by all those whose lives he touched. May he leave us with one of his many favorite sayings...
Stretch ya later.


Visitation was held Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at the Anderson-Mattson Funeral Home in Mahnomen from 4 to 7 with a prayer service at 7 pm led by Father Doyle Turner. Funeral services were held at 2 pm on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Waubun, Minnesota, led by Pastor Chad Pederson. Special music was provided by Katie Fagre and accompanied by Sarah Bauck. Serving as pallbearers were Kevin Moore, Dave Gieske, Joe Zima, Doug Nelson, Dave Ingebrigtson, Anthony LaGue, Jason Fagre and Mike Smith. Honorary bearers were Mike LaDue, Scott Haugen, Kenny Lhotka, Lyle Ingebrigtson, Greg Cukla, Cory Berry, Kim Stevens and Jeff Thompson. Burial was in the Lake Grove Lutheran Cemetery.