WALKER, John W.

The Wickenburg Sun, Wickenburg, AZ Wednesday, March 02, 2011 John W. Walker, age 75, passed away in Minneapolis, Minn., on Jan. 30, and his wife Patricia A. Walker, passed away in Brooklyn Park, Minn., on Feb. 20. John and Pat spent their winters in Wickenburg. Services were held on Saturday (Feb. 26) at The Church of St. Bartholomew, Wayzata, Minn., at 11 a.m. Visitation was Friday (Feb. 25) from 5 to 8 p.m. at Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel, 15800 37th Ave N., Plymouth, Minn. The burial took place at St. George’s Cemetery, Long Lake, Minn. John was born June 2, 1935 in Davenport, Iowa, to parents Warren W. and Alice M. Gillespie Walker. John enjoyed a 25-year career in media public relations, retiring in 1990 from U.S. West. Upon retirement, he started his own business, “The Walker Group,” where he specialized in technology and trains. Pat was born August 12, 1941 in Remson, Iowa, to parents Ernest L. and Martha Roling Groepper. Pat worked in customer service training for U.S. West, where she met John. They were married in July 1988. John and Pat spent their winters in Wickenburg where she was active at St. Anthony of Padua and was the Bible study coordinator for St. Vincent de Paul. Survivors include children Christine Groetken of Robbinsdale, Minn.; Julie Heim of St. Louis, Mo.; Charles Walker of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Victoria Abel of Prescott, Ariz.; and Richard Binger of Walker, Minn.; four grandchildren and brothers and sisters for both. Arrangements are by Gearty-Delmore Funeral Chapel, Plymouth, Minn., 763-553-1411.