John Michael Holmes, 73, of Duluth, Minnesota, died on Monday, Feb. 13, 2017, while in assisted living care in Duluth. John passed peacefully following a lengthy and debilitating illness.

John was born June 10, 1943, in Virginia, Minnesota, to John W. and Elizabeth Holmes. While John’s father served overseas John and Elizabeth lived in Virginia with Elizabeth’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.J. Larsen.

John grew up in Austin, Minnesota, where he graduated in 1961 from Austin High School. He attended Lutheran Bible Institute, now Golden Valley Lutheran College, where he met Marjorie Peterson. Marjorie and John were married in 1969 and later divorced. John attended the University of Minnesota before graduating in St. Paul, Minnesota, from William Mitchell College of Law. John practiced law over many years in Minnesota, Alaska, and Yap, Federated States of Micronesia.

John (Mike, as he is known to family) loved practicing law, but always felt a wayward wind at his back, and wanted more than anything to travel the world. Over several years, he took jobs in Russia and China teaching English as a second language having studied both Chinese and Russian at university. Mike was hired to a short term contract in Kosovo in summer 2000 by the United Nations-associated Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, whose mission was to stabilize the area following conflict and war. Mike knew the art of conversation and friendship and leaves friends in many countries.

Mike loved the Minnesota north country and Iron Range and returned to be with family at every opportunity in Duluth and at the summer cottage on Lake Vermilion. Mike was generous with his time and lived with and cared for his mother in the declining years of her life.

John served two years in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

John is survived by his brothers, Rans (Lucy) Holmes and Stephen (Sali) Holmes; sisters, Anne (Dave) Karakatsoulis, Peggy Holmes, and Katherine Holmes; eight nieces and nephews; along with extended family. Mike’s passing was not unexpected but still difficult for family members. John was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial service will not be held but family and friends will gather to remember Mike this summer at Lake Vermilion. Final arrangements and cremation are handled by Sunrise Funeral Home. Burial will be in Virginia at a later date.

Please share online condolences and photos at www.SunriseFuneralHomeandCemetery.com.