A Celebration of Life for John E. Omundson (1938–2026) will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at the Henry Olson Funeral Home in Estherville, Iowa. The family will receive friends during a visitation from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM, with the funeral service immediately following at 11:00 AM. Pastor Tim Johnson will officiate the ceremony. John will be laid to rest at the Lost Island Lutheran Cemetery in Ruthven, Iowa.
John Edward Omundson, the son of James and Velma (Perkins) Omundson, was born on November 29, 1938, in Palo Alto County, Iowa. He died on February 23, 2026, at The Garnet of Casa Grande, Arizona, at the age of 87.
He graduated from Estherville High School before marrying Myrtle “Bea” Simonsen on January 12, 1959, at the First Lutheran Church in Graettinger, Iowa.
John worked at Bradshaw Auto Dealership, Swisher Sports Supply, and NAPA Auto Parts in Estherville. He later purchased the Stardust Drive-Inn Restaurant in Jackson, Minnesota. This was a summer restaurant where locals would stop in after the Saturday night car races; carhops would bring food to the cars, reminiscent of the 1950s. He owned the restaurant for three years. John moved his family to Casa Grande, Arizona, in 1982, where he bought the Se-Tay Motel, which he owned for six years. In 2002, John bought a cabin in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and enjoyed summers on the lake for seventeen years.
John had many hobbies, including fixing and collecting classic cars, hunting pheasants, and fishing in Big Spirit Lake and at Marble Beach with his grandson. He developed a passion for baseball at a young age while playing catch with his father and remained active in local sports leagues through his 20s. He also loved a game of golf at Riverview Golf Course and enjoyed hiking in the mountains near Casa Grande with both his family and friends.
John is survived by his daughters: Debra Omundson, Casa Grande, AZ; Kimberly (Brian) Waskosky, Scottsdale, AZ; and Lisa (Marc) Mignolet, Phoenix, AZ; son-in-law, Larry Riese, Phoenix, AZ; grandson, Alexandre Mignolet, Sacramento, CA; and his siblings: Ron (Eddie) Omundson, Casa Grande, AZ; Richard (Irene) Omundson, Clinton, IN; Sharon Omundson, Emmetsburg, IA; David (Marla) Omundson, Manteno, IL; Jim (Vicky) Omundson, Bondurant, IA; and Peggy Oelkers, Fremont, NE; as well as many other extended family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Velma Omundson; wife, Myrtle “Bea” Omundson; daughter, Diana Omundson-Riese; sisters, Susan Von-Bank and Evelyn Bradshaw; nephew, Brett Bradshaw; great-nephew, Cale Omundson; and great-niece, Breanna Omundson.
Online condolences may be left for John’s family at
HenryOlsonFuneral.com.
