ALBUQUERQUE, NM

FEBRUARY 28, 1924 - NOVEMBER 14, 2020

John “Johnny Morris” Wigren died from complications of a stroke on November 14, 2020 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  He was 96 years old. 

John was born to Frieda and Carl Wigren on February 28, 1924.   He lived his early childhood in Minneapolis and Sweden, but the family settled in Big Lake, where he graduated from Big Lake High School in 1943.

Johnny Morris was a broadcasting legend, enjoying an exceptionally long career both in Minnesota and New Mexico.  He began his career in Mankato, later working for WLOL in Minneapolis.  But most in Minnesota would remember him as the weatherman for KSTP.  He later moved to New Mexico and anchored the news for thirty years before retiring at the age of 75.

John enjoyed the outdoors.  Locally, he and his friends loved to camp and hunt in the wilderness that was Big Lake.  Later, his interests included golf, tennis, hiking, camping, skiing, fishing and playing on the water.

John was a loving father, cultivating deep relationships with all of his six children.  He provided them with many wonderful experiences and memories, most of which were in the woods, on the mountains, or in the water. 

John is survived by his wife Melanie Brawley, his children Jodie Wigren of Boston, Christy Campbell of Big Lake and Lyman, Wyoming,  Peggy (Tom) Wilcox of South Padres Island, Texas, Tom (Julie) Wigren of La Pine, Oregon, Susie Snyder of Roswell, New Mexico, and Leah Wigren, of Reno, Nevada.   He is also missed by his first wife Shirley Wigren, with whom he remained close friends his entire life, nine grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be announced at a later time.