Obituary of John Green

John Wesley Green, 92, of Cambridge passed away on Thursday, June 10, 2010 at GracePointe Crossing Gables East. He was born on February 23, 1918 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to John Lawrence and Mary Virginia (Litke) Green. John grew up in Minneapolis, mainly at Nicollet Island. He also lived in Northeast Minneapolis and later Harding, MN. He worked in the CC Camps in Northern Minnesota for three years and served in the Merchant Marines for five years, serving during World War II. In 1949 he was united in marriage to Elaine "Pat" Burmeister in Minneapolis and became a stepfather to David Burmeister. While in the Merchant Marines, his son John Jr. was born. They also had two daughters Tami and Cindy. The family lived in New Brighton for 15 years before moving to East Bethel in 1964. John worked for Northern Pacific/Burlington Northern Railroad for 47 years, retiring at the age of 67. John and Pat were foster parents for many years and helped many kids through hard times and reunited many of them with their families. Several of the children they cared for still kept in contact with John and Pat over the years. John and Pat made an impression on the kids, and the kids made an impression on them as well. Pat was diagnosed with MS in 1979 and in 1988 John became a full time caregiver and homemaker for Pat. In 2004 Pat needed to move to a care facility and John never missed a day to be with her for the first year. Due to John's ill health and dementia he also moved to the same health care facility and lived in the same room as Pat until her passing. While in Cambridge Health Care Center/GracePointe Crossing Gables East, the staff said John and Pat were a very loving and caring couple and enjoyed caring for them. John was a member of the West Bethel United Methodist Church, the Isanti VFW and the St. Francis American Legion John was preceded in death by his parents, wife Pat, son John Green Jr., daughter Tami Basel, sister Marguerite Green. He is survived by daughter, Cindy (Dan) Brown of Surprise, AZ, son David (Ann) Burmeister of San Angelo, TX, five grandchildren, Angel, John, Mary, J.C., and Debbie, nine great-grandchildren, brother Robert (Verna) Green of Hastings, and numerous nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.