John William Locker, 75, passed away peacefully on November 10, 2025, after a long and courageous journey with Alzheimer’s.
He was born July 6, 1950 in Minneapolis to Beverly (Holden) Locker and Matthew Nolan. John’s early life was shaped by both hardship and extraordinary love. After the tragic loss of his mother after an automobile accident, he and his older brother Tommy were raised in Duluth by their stepmother Jane (Fowler) and Tom Locker. It was a home filled with structure, support, and the foundation for the man he would become.
John grew up in the Lakeside neighborhood on Robinson Street, surrounded by a tight circle of childhood friends who remained by his side for life. Their loyalty never wavered. In the last years of John’s life, many visited regularly. Denny Hughes spent countless afternoons at John’s side, reliving old stories while creating new ones. Jeff Odden, moved into the same Florida golf community, checked on him daily, and gave him a companion’s comfort as Alzheimer’s advanced.
As a kid, John played baseball and hockey, but it was a little 9-hole sand course at Fowler’s Point Resort on Lower Eau Claire Lake that sparked the passion that would stay with him forever — golf. He went on to become an avid player, proud owner of multiple hole-in-ones, and lifelong student of the sport.
John graduated from Duluth East High School in 1968, where he instantly fell for the new girl from Hibbing, Bonnie Kangas. Their love grew into a 46-year marriage filled with devotion, partnership, and adventure as they raised their three boys: Mike, Derek, and Chris.
Early in their marriage, John’s career took them to Wyeville, Wisconsin where he managed the Holiday Lodge. That opportunity led him to Rochester, New York where he was recruited to manage a tennis, squash, and racquetball club for Tennis Corporation of America. There, he was mentored by owner Alan Schwartz, whose guidance helped shape John’s entrepreneurial path.
And what a path it was.
John was a true inventor and serial entrepreneur — creative, relentless, and often years ahead of the market. In 1978, he brought the family back to Duluth and built the Courthouse Racquetball Club, which he operated until the mid-1990s. In the early ’80s, he introduced the Duluth area to indoor tanning, leasing equipment across the Upper Midwest. Not long after, he was among the first to bring Nautilus fitness equipment to the region.
Always scanning the horizon for what was next, John invented the first handheld laser rangefinder for golf and secured multiple patents, including the retroreflector technology now seen inside golf flag poles around the world. He built Entrepreneur Venture Capital and spent nearly 30 years selling Cozy Covers, a beloved infant carrier cover found in households nationwide.
In his later years, John purchased a home on Club Renaissance in Sun City Center, Florida where he found peace, sunshine, and endless tee times. His happiest days were when his children and grandchildren visited. He loved nothing more than taking them to the pool, heading to the beach, and simply watching them play. Family was his greatest joy.
John’s humor, creativity, curiosity, and extraordinary storytelling will be deeply missed by everyone lucky enough to know him.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie, and youngest son, Chris. He is survived by his sons Mike (Stacy) and Derek (Angie); grandchildren Matthew, Megan, Taylor (Derek), Kaitlyn (Luke), and Josh; and great-grandchildren Annie, Audrey, and Charlie.
John’s family extends heartfelt gratitude to his lifelong friends Denny Hughes and Jeff Odden, as well as the compassionate staff at The Pillars and St. Croix Hospice, for the comfort and care they provided during his final chapter.
A memorial service will be held November 26, 2025, at First United Methodist Church, 230 E Skyline Pkwy, Duluth, MN. Visitation will begin at 2:00 PM, followed by the service at 3:00 PM. A gathering with John’s favorite — Sammy’s Pizza — will follow at Club One Under in the lower level of Fitger’s at 4:30 PM.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s honor to the Portman Youth Hockey Association, PO Box 3502, Duluth, MN 55803
