John R. Breitlow

John Richard Breitlow was born January 17, 1932, in Chicago Illinois. He was adopted by Carl and Lillian Breitlow of Winona as a newborn.
He died Wednesday June 22, 2016, at Saint Anne Extended Healthcare in Winona surrounded by his loving family at the age of 84 after years of declining health.
John was a lifelong resident of Winona and graduated from Winona Senior High School in 1949. He majored in Speech and English at St Olaf College in Northfield MN in 1953 then enlisted in the US army from 1953-55 serving as a CIC counter intelligence agent in Vienna until the occupation ended with the Austrian State Treaty. He returned to the University of Minnesota in 1955 to get his mortuary science degree. This prepared him to join the family business, the Breitlow Funeral Home. While in Minneapolis, he continuing his active duty at Fort Snelling as an intelligence specialist. In 1957 he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the reserves. After his father, Carl, passed in 1966 he lost interest in the funeral business and returned to the University of Minnesota where he received his Ph.D. in speech in 1972. This allowed him to beginning teaching at St. Teresa's College in Winona and later at Winona State University.
His career as an army reservist continued through much of his life and was highlighted by graduating from the US Army War College, promotion to Full Colonel in 1977, German translator (like his father) and local outreach liaison during army REFORGER 1978 operations in Germany, commander of the 450th military intelligence unit in Iowa City, IA, designated "Outstanding Small Unit, Army Reserve 1983", and a position as consulting faculty at the Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth KS for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit for "Distinguished Service". He retired from the army in 1987.
In his youth, he spent much time with his father Carl "The Old Man" who he adored and held in the highest esteem. They raised dogs and hunted together. He enjoyed the boundary waters and was a counselor at Camp St. Croix. Despite his extensive academic accomplishments, at home we was very causal and traded in his navy sport coat for a bandana, moccasins, and rolled up army fatigue pants. His word processor became his camp stove.
During his assignment in Vienna in the 1950's he developed a love for wine. He mixed this passion with his language skills to create the Wine Wise column he wrote for the Winona Daily News from 1980 to 2011. He served as Wine Judge and Panel Tasting Leader at the New World International Wine Competition held annually in southern California for 10 years. He spread his recommendations to anyone interested in listening. His goal was to bring the joy of wine to anyone's table for less than $10 in an era before the mass marketed wines.
He loved the spoken word and the power of language. His involvement in drama led him to cross paths with Penny Crawford at the University of Minnesota in a production of "Oklahoma" where we has playing Jud Frye. They married in 1958. He was a gentle and loving provider for Penny, his lamb. Together, they took many trips to Europe and the California wine country, as well as family trips to the American West. He had a longing for the dry, open climate and a fascination with the American Bison. He took the nickname Old Buffalo during his time with the YMCA father/son Indian Guides. Later in life, he shifted his focus to the Lewis and Clarke expedition and trail. Each summer he would take Penny and his grandchildren on trips along the trail, recounting the journey. As that became more arduous in later years, he would treat the grandchildren with summer trips to the Wolf Ridge Elderhostel in northern Minnesota. He also loving spending time fishing with the grandchildren at the family cabin on Battle Lake.
He served on the bylaws committee at the First Congregational Church. His rhetorical and debate skills in combination with his pocket version of Robert's Rules of Order would bring progress to committees brave enough to ask for his help. John was known for his signature throat clearing, a signal to a group that he was preparing to "take the podium". He was a fountain of knowledge and wisdom which he would share with a charming wit. The consummate host, he would pour wine for his friends while they discussed history, world politics, science, historical figures, films, and literature. He was blessed by many friends - Bernie Wagnild, Curt Rohrer, Bill White, Roger Brosnahan, Tim Slade, Heino Beckmann, John Overend, Bob Langford, Frank Mertes, Joe Emanuel, Norris Abts, Oscar Horner, Howie Tobak, David Davidson and many more.
He is survived by son Stanton (Molly) Breitlow, daughter Carla (Tim) Erickson, grandchildren Emily, Dylan, Justin, Ian and Duncan.
He was preceded in death by his wife Penelope and parents Carl and Lillian Breitlow and his beloved springer spaniel Duchess.
A service celebrating John's life will be held on Saturday, July 2rd at 10:00 am at the First Congregational Church, Winona, MN; followed by and internment and Woodlawn and a reception back at the church. A Time of Visitation will be on Friday evening, July 1st from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, at Hoff Celebration of Life Center, Goodview.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be donated to a charity of your choice in John's name.