GANSEN, John A. 1920-1997

BIWER, GANSEN, HARRIS

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/10/2011 at 18:09:10

John A. "Jack" Gansen

MARBLE ROCK, IOWA - John A. "Jack" Gansen, 77, of 513 College St., died Sunday (July 6, 1997) at the Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City of acute leukemia.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday at the United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rosemary Rohde-Frank officiating. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Marble Rock with graveside military honors conducted by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be from 3 to 9 p.m. today at Reid's Funeral Chapel in Marble Rock where there will be a public scripture service at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church one hour before services on Tuesday.

John A. Gansen was born May 30, 1920, in rural Elma, Howard County, a son of William J. and Elizabeth (Biwer) Gansen.

He received his education at the Elma public schools. On July 8, 1942, he was inducted into the United States Army where he served with the 198th Field Artillery Battalion in the southern Philippines. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 5, 1945.

On October 25, 1947, he was united in marriage to Thelma L. Harris in Austin, Minn. They made their home in Charles City until the following year when they moved to Marble Rock. Jack was employed by the Jacob Decker Packing Plant in Mason City for 24 years until the plant closed. He then worked for the city of Marble Rock and later for Bill Theiman Plumbing and Heating in Marble Rock.

He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 1011 and was a lifetime member of V.F.W. Post 3914, both in Charles City. He was a member of the Marble Rock Volunteer Fire Department for many years. His interests included woodworking, fishing, hunting and drinking coffee with the boys at the local coffee shop. He also enjoyed going dancing on Saturday nights.

Living family members include his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Thelma, of Marble Rock; two sons and their spouses, Larry "Joe" and June Gansen of Hampton and Tony and Dian Gansen of Round Rock, Texas; two grandchildren, Joe E. Gansen of Egan, Minn., and Jackie and her husband ,Bob Vogelgesang, of Mason City; two sisters, Ann Liebel of Venice, Calif., and Gertrude and her husband Jim Womack of Riceville; two brothers and their spouses, Bill and Loretta Gansen of Lime Springs and Ken and Mary Gansen of Elma; and two sisters-in-law, Ruth Gansen of Riceville and Lucille Gansen of Elma.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Phillip, Matt and Lawrence.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the John A. Gansen Memorial Fund in care of the family.

[Globe Gazette]