JENNIFER McCALLUM

Jennifer Lee McCallum, of Mora, passed away on Monday, November 20, 2023, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.  She was 52 years old.

Jennifer was born on July 25, 1971, in Golden Valley, Minnesota to parents Steven and Katherine (Coutts) Burk.  She attended Ogilvie High School where she was a cheerleader and ran track.  She graduated in 1989.  Jennifer met the love of her life John during high school, and they were later married on August 22, 1992. Together they had 7 children, Steven, Natasha, Laura, Sophia, William, Genna and Amelia.

Jennifer was a devoted mother and put so much love and support into watching her children grow and flourish.  She was a good cook and loved to bake cookies, which she would start to make but then hand them off to one of the kids to finish.  Playing video games, like PacMan and bowling with the kids on super Nintendo and Wii brought out her fun and competitive nature. 

Jennifer loved fashion and anything pink or grey.  She even became a Vikings fan but spent more time critiquing each teams’ “outfits” than following the game.

She loved being in nature, especially watching the hummingbirds and cardinals at her feeders. Fun-filled days of fishing during the summer and winter were more about the family and friends gathered than the fish that were caught, or not caught.  Annual family trips to the north shore were spent combing the beaches for agates to take home.  So many agates were collected that they were able to inlay them in the kitchen countertops and all along her flower gardens.  She took great pride in keeping their home and gardens looking beautiful.

Jennifer had a true artistic talent that showed in her quilting, scrapbooking, and sewing mittens and elaborate Halloween costumes.  Music was always a big part of Jennifer’s day.  She loved all types, especially cranking up the 80s hairbands, classic rock, and country.  She could play a mean air guitar while dancing to her favorite songs. Jennifer was always fun to be around, laughing and joking, making life fun with everything she did.  She even had her own words and lingo.

Jennifer will be remembered for her beautiful spirit, compassionate heart, colorful and bubbly personality, and resilient perseverance.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Jennifer is preceded in death by her husband John, son Steven, father Steven Burk and father-in-law Lyle McCallum.

She is survived by her; children, Natasha, Laura (Jack) Renze, Sophia, William “Willy”, Genna, and Amelia; mother Kathy “Kootie” Burk (Dan Michael); siblings, Joey (Tonya) Burk, Jeremy Burk, Danny (Misti) Michael, Michelle (Quentin) Busitzky, and Bretta (Brandon) Schindele; mother-in- law Anna May McCallum; sisters and brothers-in-law, Kathleen (Randy) Blomquist, David (Joy), Larry (Barb), Marilyn (Jeff) Brandt, Reverend Dougald, Paul (Joan), Richard, Rose (Bob) Schludt, Ed “Eddie” (Sandy), Sheila, and Joseph Matthew; as well as countless other relatives and friends.

A FUNERAL SERVICE will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at the Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Braham with Fr. Peter VanderWeyst officiating.

VISITATION will be held from 4:00-7:00 pm on Friday, November 24, 2023 at the Hamilton Funeral Homes- Akkerman Chapel in Mora and AGAIN 1 hour prior to the service at the church.

INTERMENT will be in the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Braham.

In lieu of flowers, MEMORIALS are preferred to the family.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of JENNIFER McCALLUM, please visit our Tree Store.