Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

Visitation is 5:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Redwood Valley Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday.  Private family interment will be held at a later date.  Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

John “Jack” Kenneth McCorkell was born May 22, 1937 in New Avon Township by Wabasso, MN to John and Myrtle (Water) McCorkell.  He was baptized as a child and confirmed on June 12, 1966 at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Wabasso.  Jack graduated from Wabasso High School in 1955.  On July 25, 1965 he was united in marriage to Gayle Bloedow in Wanda.  Together the couple made their home in Redwood Falls.  Jack sold John Deere machinery in Wabasso and Redwood Falls until his retirement due to illness.  He was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.  Jack had a passion for racing sprint care and going to the races.  He began his racing career in 1957 in a Ford Coupe. During his racing career Jack racked up titles at the Jackson and Fairmount tracks. He also won the Old Minnesota State Stock Car Association Traveling Circuit. No doubt one of the highlights in his racing days was winning the Jackson Nationals in 1980 and defending that title in 1981. Among other accomplishments, McCorkell competed at the Knoxville Nationals, qualifying for the National Championships A feature on several occasions, the Western World Championships in Phoenix AZ, the Spring Nationals at Devils Bowl Speedway in Dallas TX, and the Black Hills National Championships in Rapid City SD.  Jack enjoyed traveling, his annual fishing trip to Alaska and hunting trips to Montana.

Jack is survived by his wife Gayle of 47 years; children: Jesse McCorkell of Minneapolis, Janee (Kevin) Pedersen of Castle Rock, Co, and Jonathan (Tina) McCorkell of Ceylon; grandchildren: Mackenzie and Nicholas Pedersen, Callie, Michael Jack and Morgan McCorkell; brother Malcolm (Diane) McCorkell of Dennison; mother-in-law Rosemary Bloedow of Redwood Falls; and many other relatives and friends.  He is preceded in death by his parents and three sisters.