Degner, Michael F. (1957-2019)

DEGNER, ERICKSON, MCVINUA, LYNN, SCHULTZ, GARCIA, O’NEALL, SHOLD

Posted By: Paul Nagy, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/15/2019 at 21:24:26

Michael F. Degner
April 8, 1957 - July 5, 2019

Michael Frederick Degner, age 62, of Albert City, Iowa, died on Friday, July 5, 2019, at his home in Albert City, Iowa.

Michael Degner, a son of Frederick and Thelma (Erickson) Degner, was born on April 8, 1957, in Storm Lake, Iowa. Baptized as an infant and later confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Albert City, he attended school at Albert City-Truesdale graduating in 1975. Here he met his high school sweetheart after she asked him for a ride in his 1972 Camaro. He married that sweetheart, Melody Lee McVinua-Lynn, on July 24, 1975, also at St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Albert City.

The couple started their married life on the farm where they lived until 1989. After moving the family off the farm, Michael began trucking as a full-time owner/operator. After his father retired, however, Michael returned to the farm. “Once a farm boy, always a farm boy.” He never gave up his dream of returning to the family farm. He shared this joy with his wife in seeing their son farming and all the grandchildren coming out to learn to love the farming life. Michael never thought of farming as a job but as a lifestyle; this way of living he passed down to his children and grandchildren. In his opinion, experiencing this joy made life worth living.

Active in his community, Mike served as a volunteer fireman and EMT-D for Albert City. In July of 2018, he came home to Varina Methodist Church. He served as vice president of the Varina Cemetery board and as a trustee for the Varina Methodist Church.

In his free time, Mike enjoyed woodworking where he built a house, cabinets, furniture, and things for his family. In addition, he loved watching Nascar races, grilling, riding motorcycles, and camping with his family. He cherished any time spent with family whether working or just enjoying life together.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Melody Degner, of Albert City, Iowa; his children: Leigh (Jason) Schultz, of Albert City, Iowa, Misti (Carlos) Garcia, of Pocahontas, Iowa, and Michael (Laura) Degner, Jr., of Newell, Iowa; his grandchildren: Jorden and Peyton Degner; Antonio and Gregorio Garcia; Robert Grant, Jr.; and Chelsey and Nathaniel Schultz; his sisters, Lucinda (Bill) O’Neall and Suzanne (Dan) Shold; and Josh Holt (who was like a son to Michael) as well as extended family members and friends.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Freddie and Thelma Degner; his brother, Ron Degner; his grandparents: Fred and Arvilla Degner and Willis and Sophie Erickson; his father-in-law, Roger McVinua; his step-mother-in-law, Carolyn McVinua; and his brother-in-law, Terry Lynn; as well as by numerous aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Varina. Burial will follow in the Varina Cemetery. Visitation is scheduled for Monday, July 8, 2019, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the CHURCH. The Mahaney Funeral Home in Fonda is in charge of the arrangements.

Mahaney Funeral Home, Fonda, Iowa, 2019.