John Verner Kristoffersen, 94, of Owatonna, passed away peacefully Friday, November 23, 2018 at Koda Living Community. He was born Johannes Verner Kristoffersen on May 1, 1924 in Eden, Wasioja Township, Dodge County, MN the son of Mads and Caroline Marie (Salomonsen) Kristoffersen. John was baptized into the Lutheran faith at Faith Lutheran Church, Dodge Center. He was also an active member at Associated Lutheran Church, Owatonna for many years. He worked on the family farm and for a carpenter in Kasson. John also was a Culligan man. John was an army sergeant and served from 1949-1952. He served in the Army Corps of Engineers as a mechanic and doing blasting in Colorado and as a drill sergeant. He met his wife Wanda, before he went into the service and was married on June 19, 1951. He and Wanda moved to Owatonna in 1952. Later on, John started working for the police department for 25 years and retiring in 1980. He briefly also ran a gasoline filling station with a partner. John loved to travel countrywide, gardening at home with Wanda and enjoyed fixing cars, engines and tractors. He also loved playing his guitar and accordion, fishing with friends, reading, watching Discovery and History channels and having coffee with family and friends, especially Saturday mornings. He is survived by daughter, Susan (Dann) Rypka; granddaughter, Kalina Rypka; nieces, CarolAnn (Rodney) Thompson, Judy Jones, Patricia Pool, Melanie (Richard) Clifford; nephew, Mick (Debbie) Shelstad and many grand nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Wanda (Rowland) Kristoffersen; parents, Mads and Caroline Marie (Salomonsen) Kristoffersen; siblings, Margaret, Elma, Carl, Harold, Martha; nephews, James and Jerry Rasmussen. Visitation will be at Michaelson Funeral Home on Saturday from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. Funeral services will be held December 8, 2018 at 11:30 am at Michaelson Funeral Home, Owatonna with Reverend Coqui Conkey officiating. Interment will be in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Owatonna in the spring. Visitation: 12/08/2018 10:30 12/08/2018 11:30 Service: 12/08/2018 11:30