Arthur Eaton, Jr.

Arthur John “Art” Eaton, Jr., age 87, of Randolph Township in Minnesota passed away October 28, 2016 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN after a hard fought seven-week battle with aspiration pneumonia. He was surrounded by his family and friends.

A funeral service was held Saturday, November 5 at St. Pius V Catholic Church in Cannon Falls, MN. Burial was at St. Joseph’s of the Lakes Cemetery in Lino Lakes, MN.

Art was born to Arthur J. Eaton, Sr. and Alice Hendrickson Eaton in Waukon February 16, 1929. When Art was a year old, he and his family moved to Apple Valley, MN, where his parents owned and operated Eaton’s Ranch, a business that would stay operational into the 1970s. Art worked with his family at the ranch helping with various chores such as hay rides, sleigh rides, trail rides and rodeos.

Feeling that he would get a better education than from the one-room school nearby, his parents drove him 13 miles one way to and from Nathan Hale Grade School in South Minneapolis, MN for his elementary school education. Art then attended Breck School in St. Paul, MN for two years and graduated from St. Louis Park High School in 1947.

When Art was a teenager, his parents purchased the Lilac Way Riding Academy and Pastime Arena in St. Louis Park, which is still in existence today as the Roller Gardens Skating Rink.

Art remembered riding horses down Lilac Way, which is now Highway 100. Art proudly served his country in the Air Force during the Korean War as a communications specialist.

Eaton’s Ranch had been out of the family for several years but came back into Art’s life when he and his wife, Joan, repurchased it in the mid-1970s and again offered horse boarding, hay and sleigh rides, as well as a restaurant on site called The Maverick. As Apple Valley started growing around the ranch property, they discontinued the horse part of the operation and turned the business into the very popular Eaton’s Western Store, which they operated until it was taken by the highway department for Cedar Avenue expansion in 1982.

Unfortunately, Joan passed away from cancer in 1980. Art was responsible for developing a large portion of Apple Valley, including Palomino Hills, Timberwick, Saddle Ridge and Rodeo’ Hills. The Apple Valley High School sits on property which was once part of Eaton’s Ranch.

Art met his wife, Gretchen (Menne), at the western store and they were married in 1983 and became involved in raising, selling and racing thoroughbred horses at Canterbury Park in 1986, one year after Canterbury Park opened. It was a business and sport that Art enjoyed and participated in until the time of his death. Art and Gretchen were honored to be inducted into the Canterbury Park Hall of Fame in 2003.

Art is survived by his loving wife, friend and business partner of 33 years, Gretchen, who was also his constant companion; his daughters, Sue Kennedy of New Prague, MN and Barbara Eaton of San Diego, CA; his son, Todd Eaton of Cannon Falls, MN; six granddaughters, Liz Kennedy-Laliberte (Damon), Erin Kennedy, Katy Kennedy, Breanna Kennedy, Danielle Eaton and Melissa Eaton; three great-grandsons, John Finnegan, Lincoln Alessandro and Graeme Arthur; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Art was a very generous, loving man who made friends wherever he went and will be missed by all who knew him.  He was a true gentleman and one of the “good guys”.
In lieu of flowers and to honor Art’s commitment to the well-being of retired thoroughbred race horses, memorials are preferred to Canter Minnesota, 18181 Luedke Lane, Prior Lake, MN 55372 and/or Bowman’s Second Chance Thoroughbred Adoption, 6905 162nd Avenue SW, Rhame, ND 58651.

Arrangements were handled by Lundberg Funeral Home of Cannon Falls, MN. Online condolences may be directed to www.lundbergfuneral.com.