RHOADS, John R. 1918-2006

RHOADS, LOOFF, HARMS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/12/2015 at 08:56:20

John R. Rhoads, 88, of Holland, Iowa, died Saturday, December 9, 2006, at the Grundy Care Center in Grundy Center, Iowa. Following cremation, Memorial Services will be 1:30 P.M., Wednesday, December 13, 2006, at the New Hope Fellowship Church in Holland, Iowa, (formerly known as the Holland Christian Reformed Church), with Pastor Gary Nibbelink officiating. Burial will follow at the Holland Cemetery in Holland, Iowa, with full military rites provided by the Grundy Center American Legion Post #349 and AMVETS Post #17. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 12, 2006, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., at the New Hope Fellowship Church in Holland, where the family will be present to greet relatives and friends. A memorial fund has been established. Doyen-Abels Funeral Home in Wellsburg is serving the family of John R. Rhoads.

John was born September 6, 1918, in Wellsburg, Iowa, the son of Charles and Jennie (Looff) Rhoads Sr. He attended rural Grundy County schools. At the age of eight, John left home and worked for a farmer and his wife south of Grundy Center. At the age of eighteen, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, and helped to build Pine Lake State Park and its facilities outside of Eldora, Iowa. John then worked for Ed Dieken as a mechanic until he was drafted into the United States Army on March 18, 1942. John served his country during WWII and was honorably discharged on October 18, 1945. Upon returning home from the war, John began work at Heine Implement in Grundy Center. On June 3, 1955, John was united in marriage to Leona Ann Harms at the Holland Christian Reformed Church. After their marriage, they made their home in Grundy Center and then later moved to Holland. John then went to work for Clarence Kruse and Don Falck at the Holland Elevator, working as an over the road truck driver, hauling both livestock and grain. John also worked for area farmers- Elky and Eldon DeVries, George K. Weseman, and Jim Freed. John then became employed by the Grundy County Secondary Roads Department, retiring in 1984.

John was a member of the Holland Christian Reformed Church and a fifty-four year member of the Grundy Center American Legion Post #349.

He is survived by his wife Leona Rhoads of Holland, Iowa; four brothers Henry "Dusty" Rhoads of Kansas City, Missouri; Carl Rhoads and his wife Gladys of Wellsburg, Iowa; Kenneth Rhoads and his wife Marie of Grundy Center, Iowa; Richard Rhoads and his wife Belva of Cedar Falls, Iowa; one sister Carrie Mills Mackie of Marshalltown, Iowa; two sisters-in-law Ethel Rhoads of Grundy Center, Iowa; Wilma Vos and her husband Bill of Grundy Center, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers Charles Rhoads Jr., William "Bill" Rhoads, and Donald Rhoads.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)