John J. Van LAERE

VAN LAERE, NEWART, MULLER, MOYE, MOHRING

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/10/2012 at 21:33:31

The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Sunday, August 26, 2007

John J. Van LAERE

John J. Van LAERE, 97, of 19 Fifth St. N.E., Rockford, died Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, at the Rockwell Nursing Home, Rockwell.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. today, Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Zion Lutheran Church, 805 E. Main Ave., Rockford. The Rev. Judy WOOTON and the Rev. Bob SCHEURER will officiate. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Rockford. Visitation was held 4-6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 20, at the Fullerton Funeral Home, 302 W. Main, Rockford.

John was born on Aug. 1, 1914, in LaFayette, Ind., to Al and Louise (NEWART) Van LAERE. On Nov. 24, 1936, he married Alberta Grius. After his marriage, the couple moved to Swaledale where John was a self-employed carpenter. The family later moved to Rockford in 1951 where John continued his carpentry work.

John enjoyed horses and at one time was a jockey. He was a member of the Moose Lodge. He retired in 1981, yet continued to make many wood projects for family and friends. Later in life he met his special friend Dolores MULLER, and for the last 20 years John and Dolores enjoyed traveling together and seeing family and friends.

John was an outgoing family man who was always thinking of his family telling others stories and sharing a joke. With his carpentry work he helped build a number of homes including some in Rockford. He made a number of baby beds, chairs, rockers and other projects for family members and friends. Many thought that he was a doctor of wood. He loved fishing and many would say that he had one hand on the fishing pole and the other on a minnow. He loved to dance and he continued going out to dance until the age of 95. He truly loved life to the fullest. His philosophy of life was to be fair and honest with all, along with seeing the goodness in other people.

John is survived by his son Jack (Sue) Van LAERE; one daughter Joann MOYE; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren; along with his very special friend Dolores MULLER.

Preceding John in death were his parents, three brothers, wife Alberta, one grandson, one great-granddaughter, one great-great granddaughter and son in-laws Melvin MOHRING and Wendell MOYE.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2012