John Michael Sexton

John Michael Sexton was born in Mankato Minnesota on February 28, 1948. John died from West Nile virus at the University of Minnesota hospital on September 1, 2025.

John attended Loyola high school and graduated from Mankato High school in 1966. He attended the University of Minnesota. John served in the Marines and achieved college degrees in engineering. John was a talented linguist, avid outdoor adventurer, and world traveler. He lived for 30 years in Jerusalem while working as the head gardener at the Garden Tomb in the Biblical Zoo and Gardens. Some of John’s adventures included smuggling Bibles into Russia and sailing the West Coast of Africa.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Peggy and Jack Sexton; his sisters, Beth, Julie, and Theresa Sexton and his brother-in-law Joe Matsumoto.

John is survived by his siblings, Marny Fasnacht (Ray), Diane Hendrickson (Jerry), Jane Matsumoto, Dan Sexton, Kevin Sexton (Rebecca), Joe Sexton (Colleen), Gina Jewison (Joe), Tom Sexton (Anne), Peter Sexton (Esther); and many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Marysburg, Madison Lake, Minnesota. A luncheon will follow the mass. Interment will be at St. Ann Catholic Cemetery in Janesville.