Johnny Saarela, a 71-year-old of Sebeka, formerly of Long Prairie, passed away on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Lakewood Care Center in Staples. 

A memorial service in his honor will take place on Monday, August 3, 2026, at the American Lutheran Church in Long Prairie at 5:00 PM. Visitation will start at 3:30 PM that afternoon at the church until the start of the service. Burial will immediately follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Long Prairie.

 

Johnny's service will be livestreamed through the church website.  https://americanlutheranchurch.org/

Johnny was born on April 7, 1955, in Wadena, Minnesota, the youngest of five children born to Eino and Esther (Matta) Saarela. He was baptized at Paddock Bethany Lutheran Church in rural Sebeka and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sebeka. Johnny was proud of his Finnish heritage and the values of hard work and helping others that it instilled in him.

He graduated from Sebeka High School in 1973 and attended Wadena Technical College, where he studied automotive parts. On September 27, 1980, he married Kelly Hepokoski at Grace Lutheran Church in Sebeka. Together they built a family and shared nearly 46 years of marriage. Johnny especially enjoyed annual family vacations, attending racing events with his family, and spending time with his grandchildren.

Johnny worked in automotive parts store management and automotive warehouses throughout central Minnesota and the Twin Cities for 31 years. A talented self-taught sign artist, he established Saarela Sign Works in 1982.

He later joined the Todd County Sheriff's Department, serving as a 911 dispatcher, dispatch supervisor, jailer, death investigator, and deputy coroner. He retired in 2014 because of health concerns but continued working part-time as a dispatcher for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Forestry Offices in Nimrod and Park Rapids during fire season. He also worked at Hub 71 Convenience Store in Sebeka.

Johnny was a member of American Lutheran Church in Long Prairie and believed in giving back to his community. He served as secretary of the Country Cruisers Car Club and was a member of the New Classics Motor Club, Rebel Cruisers, Sebeka Historical Society, Minnesota Fire Chiefs Association, Minnesota Fire Departments Association, and the Fire Engine Club of Minnesota. He also served on the boards of the Christie House Museum, Evergreen Cemetery Association, Combined Fund Charity Board, and Vocational Education Advisory Board. He volunteered with the Salvation Army of Todd County and served as an election official.

One of Johnny’s greatest passions was the Long Prairie Fire Department, where he proudly served for 27 years after joining in 1987. He often said he would still be a firefighter if his health had allowed it. Throughout his years of service, he held numerous leadership positions, including Fire Chief, Second Assistant Chief, First Assistant Chief, Training Officer, Fire Department President, and Relief Association President.

Johnny’s leadership helped shape the department for future generations. He chaired the committee responsible for replacing the department’s fire trucks, working tirelessly with fellow committee members to secure the grant that brought the first aerial ladder fire truck to Todd County and the surrounding area. He was instrumental in establishing the Long Prairie Fire Department Explorers Program for youth, one of only twelve such programs in Minnesota at the time and helped the department achieve an exceptional Insurance Services Organization Classification of 4, placing it among only eight departments in the state to earn that distinction. As a Minnesota State Fire Instructor, he mentored and trained countless firefighters. In recognition of his dedication and service, he was nominated for Minnesota Firefighter of the Year in 1995.

His commitment to first responders continued beyond active firefighting as co-founder and secretary of First Responder Suicide Awareness, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of those who serve.

Outside of work and volunteering, Johnny enjoyed NHRA drag racing, demolition derbies, dirt track racing, snowmobiling, and playing guitar, which he taught himself. He had a special fondness for animals, especially his cats. Whether through his work, volunteering, or everyday life, Johnny was always willing to lend a hand to someone in need.

Johnny is survived by his wife, Kelly Saarela; his children, Melissa (Jeremy) Burch; Nick (Kristin) Saarela; his cherished grandchildren Evan, Corbin, and Preston Burch and Katylin, Ashley, and Kinzey Saarela; siblings Shirley (David Norman) Keltto, Joyce Jampsa, and Arnold (Carol) Saarela; and many extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Shawn Saarela; brother, Larry Saarela; parents, Eino and Esther (Matta) Saarela; mother and step-father-in-law, Judy and Jerry Tomford; father-in-law, Donald Hepokoski; brother-in-law, Delbert Keltto; sister-in-law Connie Helpkoski; and niece, Janelle Mandsager.

Johnny will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, firefighter, public servant, and friend. His dedication to serving others and his willingness to help wherever he was needed left a lasting impact on his family, his community, and the many people who had the privilege of knowing him.