John Henry Jorde

Omaha, Neb.

Rev. John Henry Jorde, 78, passed away on March 2, 2025, in Omaha, Nebraska.

He was born on July 12, 1946, in Minot, North Dakota to Henry Jorde and Helen (Westgard) Jorde and grew up in Plaza, North Dakota.

John started college at the University of North Dakota and in 1968 graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota. He earned a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota and was ordained a Minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) in 1972.

He served congregations in Las Vegas, Nevada; Willow Lake, South Dakota; Mankato, Minnesota; and Campus Ministries at Wayne State College, Wayne, Nebraska. He was a long-time member of Edina Community Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

John was preceded in death by his grandparents, Julius and Alma Westgard; parents, Henry and Helen (Westgard) Jorde; Son, Paul Jonathon Ewald Jorde; Sister, Nita (Jorde) Kok, and his aunts and uncles who helped raise him: Jeff Evenson, Gene and Phyllis Westgard, Ozzie and Opal Westgard, Morris and Josie Westgard, and Bob Patten.

He is survived by son, Brian Jorde, daughter-in-law Jillian, grand-daughters Estelle (5) and Evelyn Paul (3) all of Omaha, with whom he spent the last four months of his life, and nephew Steven Kok, niece Amy (Kok) Gray, Aunts Carol (Westgard) Evenson and Vonnie (Westgard) Patten, and beloved cousins and friends.

John enjoyed spending time between Minneapolis and his lake home as well as traveling the world. He enjoyed adventure and physical activity working and playing outdoors including road trips through Canada and skiing in Breckenridge in 2024. A modern day “MacGyver” his imagination and improvisation led to countless construction and renovation projects over the years, many which were cherished time working side by side with Brian. With properties in the Uptown area, John was proud to have trained hundreds of tenants to go on to be homeowners. Always in search of a good time, John enjoyed dancing and live music. In his last few years, spending time with his granddaughters was his biggest joy including time at the Lake, on ski trips, and at gymnastics and swimming lessons in Omaha. John was involved in social justice efforts sponsoring refugees from war torn areas and was focused on “we and us” as opposed “me and I.” His opinionated emails will be missed by many, but likely not all!

Celebrations of John’s Life will be held at Edina Community Lutheran Church, 1 p.m. on April 5, 2025, and at First Lutheran Church in Plaza, North Dakota at 1 p.m. on April 13, 2025, whereafter John will be buried along side his parents, grandparents, and son Paul at the East Plaza Cemetery. A small gathering will be held at a later time in Omaha, Nebraska.

Cards can be sent to Brian Jorde, c/o Domina Law Group, 2425 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144.

Flowers can be sent to Edina Community Lutheran Church or First Lutheran Church in Plaza prior to the respective ceremonies. In lieu of flowers, consider a memorial to The Legacy Fund of Edina Community Lutheran Church.