MARSHALL — A pastor that called Marshall home for 25 years has died. Pastor John E. Quam died peacefully in Minneapolis after a short illness at the age of 92. Pastor Quam was a Lutheran Pastor for more than 60 years, including the St. Stephen Lutheran Church from 1963 to 1988. He spent the last years of his ministry serving as visitation pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield from 1997 to 2017, before retiring at the age of 86.
During his time in Marshall, Quam was one of the first pastors in southwest Minnesota to perform a marriage between a Lutheran and a Catholic. When Southwest Minnesota State College, (now Southwest Minnesota State University) was founded in Marshall, he advocated for a single religious center on campus, rather than separate ones divided by sect.
John was also a referee in football, basketball, volleyball, and softball for athletes from middle school to college.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00PM St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield with visitation an hour prior and a reception to follow. Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery in Northfield.
