John Adney (1911-2008)

ADNEY

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 1/20/2009 at 23:24:18

Maquoketa Sentinel-Press
November 19, 2008

John Adney

John Robert Adney, 97, of Miles died Friday, Nov. 14, 2008 at Mercy Living Center North in Clinton.

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at the United Presbyterian Church in Miles with the Rev. Bill Warhover officiating.

Burial was in Miles Cemetery, Miles.

Visitation was held from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, at Miller-Law-Jones Funeral Home in Preston.

Mr. Adney was born May 5, 1911 in McGregor to John Alvin and Bertha (Russow) Adney.

He attended McGregor schools, graduating from McGregor High School.

On June 4, 1934, he married Edith Genevieve Gohlman in Clinton. She died in 1979.

Mr. Adney worked for the Milwaukee Road Railroad Marquette shop in Marquette and the Chicago North Western Railroad, Clinton Shop in Clinton.

He spent some years working at the G. A. Gohlman General store and John L. Franks Lumber and Feed Store, both in Miles.

Mr. Adney spent years working as a munitions handler and explosives operator at the Savanna Ordnance Depot during World War II.

He spent 10 years working with the University of Iowa in Iowa City to do geological studies of the region. He discovered that the Mississippi River wandered through the Preston, Green Island and Spragueville areas more than 10,000 years ago.

Mr. Adney’s interests and talents carried him down many different paths. His true profession and calling in life was a writer, historian and amateur photographer.

He spent many hours collecting ideas, thinking deep thoughts and jotting down notes, which filled his articles with wonderful stories, history and photos. People from across Iowa and northern Illinois have enjoyed his works for many years.

He worked on the History of Jackson County and most notably on railroad history in the area. His works are present in books written by John Tigges.

Some of his stories are “Hoboes,” “Harvest in McGregor,” “Advent of the Auto,” “1800s Doctor-Quack or Saint” and “Seventeen year Cicadas.”

He wrote about the infamous Al Capone, the Victorian era and political scandals.

Survivors include two sons, John G. (and Patricia) Adney of Marion and Robert Adney of Clinton; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Doris Lindeman and Jeanette Beckett; one brother, Raymond and daughter in-law, Ella Adney.