John Fitzgerald Pendelton was born December 14, 1963 in Milwaukee, WI to Charles Ray and Colleen Faye (O’Dell) Pendelton.

John was raised in several states while growing up with his most memorable states that he lived in being Michigan, Florida, and Colorado. During this time he attended several different schools, completing school through the 10th grade. Following school, John worked various jobs.

While living in Colorado, John was united in marriage to Brenda Wyley and to this union a daughter, Monica was born. They later separated.

John met the love of his life Tammy in Colorado Springs, CO in 1991 while working as a sous chef at Winslow Court Retirement Home where Tammy was working as a dietary aide. On October 24, 1992, John was united in marriage to Tammy Lynn Sundstrom in Colorado Springs, CO. To this union three children were born, Katie, Lacey and Amy. They later adopted their son Grey.

Following their marriage they resided for a short time in Colorado Springs, CO. They later moved to Tulsa, OK for 6 months where he worked as a chef at Embassy Suites Hotel before moving to Karlstad, MN. While living in Karlstad he worked at Northern Pride in Thief River Falls, MN before he started working at Arctic Cat in Thief River Falls, MN. In July of 1993 they settled in Oklee, MN where they have since resided. While working at Arctic Cat he began in fiberglass before working on the paint line than settling on welding. He completed a class through Northland Community Technical College in Thief River Falls to be certified as a welder while working at Arctic.

He retired in 2025 and thoroughly enjoyed his retirement with his wonderful wife, children and grandchildren.

John had a love of restoring old Ford trucks. Throughout the years he has restored multiple 70’s Ford F-150 pickup trucks. While restoring his trucks he could often be found at junkyards hunting for parts or at friends house barrowing tools which often led to hours of visiting, which his daughters can attest to. He has also restored a 1940’s 8N Ford tractor. He enjoyed working on military models. He completed many of these models. Once completed, he was very proud of his work and enjoyed showing them off to his family and explaining how he completed each one down to every detail. John was a very resourceful man using sand, twigs, dried plants and even his daughters hair to complete his models and dioramas. John inherited his love of gardening from his father Charles so much that he often started his plants inside months in advance. He took pleasure being in the kitchen cooking food for his family. His favorite food to prepare was pinto beans, fried potatoes, corn bread, and a side of turnip greens. He also enjoyed collecting coins and stamps.

He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Oklee where he served on the Parish Board and Council. He enjoyed helping with church events flipping pancakes and burgers, assisting with the auction, along with others.

John will be remembered as a loving and caring man with many talents who was known to be helpful and always willing to lend a hand.

Survivors include his loving wife of 34 years, Tammy Pendelton of Oklee, MN; children Monica Hanson of Fergus Falls, MN, Katie Pendelton of Oklee, MN, Lacey Pendelton of Fargo, ND, Amy Pendelton of Oklee, MN and Grey Pendelton of Oklee, MN; grandchildren, Lillian, Hayz, Jett, Easton, Gemma, and Giovanni; mother, Colleen Pendelton; sisters Wendy (David) Thoemke and Yvonne (Jerod Konickson) Pendelton; nephews Glen (Michael) Thoemke, Logan Thoemke, Simon Thoemke, and Nicholas (Taya Olson) Hall; mother-in-law, Margaret Majerus; brothers-in-law Michael (Jessie) Sundstrom and Troy (Angel) Sundstrom; sister-in-law Lisa (Omar) Thorne and other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his unborn child; father, Charles Pendelton; and his grandparents, Herbert and Anita O’Dell and Orpha “Evelyn” Pendelton.

John Pendelton of Oklee, MN passed away on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, ND with his loving family by his side at the age of 62 years, 3 months and 25 days. May his memory be blessed.