Justin Herbert Simpson

April 12, 1940 — December 9, 2016

Justin Herbert Simpson, 76 of St. Peter, died Friday, December 9, 2016 at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Peter with visitation one hour prior.

The family prefers memorials be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Peter or the St. Peter Arts Center.

Mr. Simpson was born on April 12, 1940 in the Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington to Merald and Lucile (Pettit) Simpson. He attended school in Portland, Oregon and graduated from Jefferson High School in 1958. He attended Reed College and Portland State University and received a MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Medford, Mass. and a MAT from Minnesota State University. He served as a Specialist in the US Army Chemical Center and School in Fort McClellan, Ala. He married Barbara Ellen Summerville at the Nooksack Methodist Church in Nooksack, Washington on June 20, 1970. Mr. Simpson taught Special Education for nearly 30 years, first at Kasson-Mantorville High School and then at Mankato East High School. Mr. Simpson served as the coach of the Mankato East Academic Decathlon Teams that won state championships and honors at the national competitions. He and Barbara are members of Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Peter and Mr. Simpson served as coordinator of the Sunday school and chairman of the Council. He and Barbara spent part of most summers in Oxford, England and in Portland, Oregon. In retirement, they also traveled in Europe, India and the Caribbean. They joined the Saintly City Cat Club in St. Paul and for several years Mr. Simpson served as the entry clerk for the club’s annual Cat Show as well as the club’s delegate to the Cat Fanciers Association’s annual national meetings. He served on St. Peter’s Planning and Zoning Commission and volunteered for the Arts Center of St. Peter. Mr. Simpson had breakfast Monday mornings with the Dinks and belonged to card groups in Mankato and St. Peter. He was a regular participant in handicapping contests at Canterbury Park and was an avid reader on the history of the British Monarchy.

Mr. Simpson is survived by his wife, Barbara of St. Peter, Minnesota; by his sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Clifford Brock of Damascus, Oregon; by his nephews, Justin Brock of Eugene, Oregon; Dr. Matthew Brock of San Antonio, Texas; and Brian (Marissa) and Braxson Brock of Portland, Oregon; and by his brother-in-law and sister-in- law, Jim and Chris Summerville, and by his nephews, Spencer and Evan Summerville, all of Hillsboro, Oregon. Mr. Simpson is also survived by his cousins, Myrtle Jeffrey of Delburne, Alberta; Pearl Ritz of High River, Alberta; and Sheila and Michael Sharpe of Del Mar, California. Mr. Simpson is also survived by his godson, Matthew Robinson of Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. Simpson was predeceased by his parents.

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Justin Herbert Simpson

April 12, 1940 — December 9, 2016

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