John McCarthy

John Alan McCarthy was born on March 8, 1946, in Brainerd, Minnesota, to Valentine (Salisbury) and Thomas McCarthy. He was raised in Brainerd and the Mission Township area and graduated from Crosby-Ironton High School. He met Sharon Swoverland of Minneapolis in 1965, and they married in April 1966. Together, they raised two daughters, Stacey and Melissa.

John proudly served four years in the U.S. Navy aboard an old World War II submarine, where he served as a navigator. He was stationed in Key West, Florida, and during his time in the Navy, he traveled to ports along the East Coast, Guantanamo Bay, and the Mediterranean.

After leaving the Navy, John returned to his job at Potlatch, also known as Northwest Paper Company, in Brainerd. He held many positions during his 37 years there, working as a millwright for the last 20. His retirement coincided with the sale of the paper mill in 2002. In his early retirement, he continued to put his skills to work doing construction and handyman projects around the Brainerd area.

John worked hard all his life. He could fix or build just about anything. Give him a picture and a dream, and he could bring it to life, whether working with wood or metal. He once built a beautiful roll-top desk for a friend and an industrial smoker/grill for the RV park where he and Sharon spent 14 winters in Beverly Hills, Florida.

He enjoyed traveling and exploring with his wife. Together, they visited Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, Sequoia National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Mount Hood, Banff, and the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama, just to name a few.

John found great joy in his property in East Gull Lake and in spending time in his woods every day, cutting firewood, watching the deer, and enjoying nature. He loved a warm fire in his wood stove during the winter. He also loved his cats, including the ones who kept vigil over him in his final days, as well as the cats who had been part of his life before them.

John was not a hunter; he didn't like to kill things. He was generous with his time and labor, always willing to help anyone who needed it. He wasn't a soft, gentle man, but he was a good man. He will be missed by all who loved him.

A special thank-you to Lou, Shelly, Moments Hospice, and Cornerstone Caregiving for making it possible for John to remain in his home and for keeping him comfortable.

A service will be held at 2pm on Thursday, October 29, 2026 at the Brenny Family Funeral Chapel in Baxter with a visitation held one hour prior.