09/07/2018
John Varel Irving, 92, passed away on Friday, September 7, 2018, at Acura Healthcare in Knoxville, Iowa. Services were Tuesday, September 11th at 11:00 a.m. at the Columbia United Methodist Church.
Burial was at the Columbia Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Columbia United Methodist Church or to the Columbia Fire and Rescue. Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton helped with the arrangements.
John was born to Varel and Velta Irving one mile north of the small Frontier town of Purdy, Iowa on September 2, 1926. John attended his early school years at what was called “Brush College” in Lucas County until the family moved to Columbia. John worked in his youth for area farmers milking cows, and shearing sheep.
After attending grade school in Columbia, John attended Knoxville High School where he was drafted into military service two months into his senior year. He then began his military training in the Great Lakes Training Camp, which prepared him to begin his service out of Norfolk Virginia during WWII. John’s ship loaded and headed out to sea just two days before the ship received a message that WWII was over. John spent the remainder of his military career decommissioning ships until 1946.
John took up his craft of shearing sheep across Iowa and South Dakota until he took his mother to visit his brother Miles with his new wife Edna Anderson in Wyoming. John’s words were he then met the “Best of any Woman”.
Soon after John returned to Iowa he borrowed his father’s Model A Ford to drive back to Wheatland, Wyoming and married Caroline Rebecca Dietz on September 17, 1946. They were blessed with a son Cole in 1952.
John worked shearing sheep and worked at the VA Hospital, but his favorite job during this time was selling Watkins products, which allowed him to meet many friends and acquaintances around the area. John was always involved in his community. A couple of noteworthy positions he held in Columbia were Constable in 1969 and Justice of the Peace in 1971. In 1970 John went to work for Pella Windows then later retired in 1989.
John enjoyed his friends and most of all helped anyone he came in contact with. John enjoyed helping at the Columbia Church, keeping his apple trees, and berries, and using his tractor to gather wood for the winter.
Preceding John in death were his parents; his wife, Caroline; son Cole; siblings: Miles, Tom, Bob, Anna, Jim, Melvin, and Bill.
Left to honor his memory are his brother, Jerry (Julie) Irving; grandsons: Chad (Michelle) Irving and Luke Irving; his daughter-in-law, Julie (Ron) Reese; and grandchildren: Carson, Carter, and Natalie Irving; as well as many relatives and friends.