Here is part of the obituary:
John Edward Simonett, died July 28, 2011. Survived by Doris (nee Bogut), his wife of 59 years, and by five children: Two daughters, Mary Wegerson (Edward) and District Judge Martha Simonett (Gabriel Graur); and three sons, John J., Paul E. (Julie) and Luke C. A sixth child, daughter Anne (Hank Shea, now married to Chris Shea), was Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals and died in 1995.
Justice Simonett is survived by eight grandchildren: Paul (Barbara) and Sarah Wegerson, Catherine and Joseph Simonett, Henry Shea, S.J. and Claire Simonett Shea, and Tate and Robert Preston, and a great-granddaughter, Madison Wegerson.
Justice Simonett was born on July 12, 1924, at a Mankato hospital and grew up in nearby Le Center. He graduated from St. John's University (magna cum laude) in 1948, with time out for military service (November 1944 - September 1946), including time in the Philippines as a 1st Lt. Inf.
He graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School (magna cum laude) in 1951. He practiced law for 29 years in Little Falls, Minnesota with Senator Gordon Rosenmeier. He was State Deputy of the Minnesota Knights of Columbus (1961-62) and a Charter Member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He served as an Associate Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court (1980-94), following which he joined the Greene Espel Law Firm until his retirement some 10 years later.
Justice Simonett was noted for his legal writing, appellate opinions and good-natured wit.
I don't think anyone will ever forget the bow ties.
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