Schermerhorn, John R. 1927-2014

SCHERMERHORN, WALLACE, GOOD, CRISWELL, COPE, PALMIOTTO, GRAHAM, BRICK, YARD, BURKETT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/6/2014 at 08:15:33

John R. Schermerhorn, 86, of Newton died on Friday, Jan. 10, 2014, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14, at the First Christian Church in Newton. The family will greet friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, followed by a Masonic Service at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Memorials to American Legion Post 111 may be left at the funeral home. Memorials may also be mailed to the funeral home; please add Attn: Schermerhorn Family on the envelope.

John, the son of Arthur Orsen and Nina Mae (Wallace) Schermerhorn, was born on Jan. 13, 1927, in Newton. He grew up in Newton and California, graduating from Newton High School in 1944. John served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was united in marriage with Kathleen R. “Kay” Good on June 29, 1949, in Des Moines. They moved to California in 1952.

John worked for the Department of Defense in charge of quality function for the space shuttle program and was involved with every space shuttle. He then worked as the Engineering and Quality Manager for Sargent Fletcher, working on military aircraft. In the late 1980s, he was a part owner of GNS Spices and introduced Habanero peppers to the United States. After moving back to Newton in 1990, he served as the Mayor from 1993-1995 and then worked as the Jasper County Emergency Management Coordinator, retiring in 2003. Following Kay’s death in 2001, John was married to Karen Criswell Cope.

John was a member of the American Legion Post 111, Newton Lodge #59 A.F. & A.M., Gebal Chapter #12, Royal Arch Masons, Malachi Council #55, Royal & Select Masters, Oriental Commandery #22, Knights Templar, Des Moines Scottish Rite Consistory, 32nd Degree Shriner, Golden Kiwanis, Last Man’s Club, 40 & 8, and the First Christian Church. He enjoyed politics and woodworking, but most importantly his family. He liked going to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s sporting events and activities.

Those left to honor Johns’ memory are his wife, Karen Schermerhorn of Newton; children, Deborah Schermerhorn of Boulder City, Nev., Martin (Lilly) Schermerhorn of Claremont, Calif., Aleta (Joseph) Palmiotto of Dell Rapids, S.D., and Jeffrey (Sandra) Schermerhorn of Henderson, Nev.; his step-sons, Scott and Corey Cope, both of Centerville; 12 grandchildren, Tracy, Peter, Aaron, Joshua, Janos, Erika, Matthew, Adam, John, Derek, Amanda and Kaci; three step-grandchildren, Hannah, Joe and Cash; 17 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Fred Schermerhorn, Lyndel Graham, Wally Schermerhorn, Roberta Brick and Nona Yard; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Kathleen R. “Kay” in 2001; two brothers, Thomas and Robert Schermerhorn; and a sister, Lorra Burkett. ~ The Newton (IA) Daily News.
==============================================
John R. Schermerhorn
Newton, IA
Jan 13, 1927 - Jan 10, 2014

Visitation Service At the Wallace Family Funeral Home
Monday, January 13th, 2014
4:00pm to 6:00pm
Funeral Service At the First Christian Church
Tuesday, January 14th, 2014
11:00am
Burial Service At Newton Union Cemetery
Tuesday, January 14th, 2014

John R. Schermerhorn, 86, of Newton, died on Friday, January 10, 2014, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, January 14, 2014, at the First Christian Church in Newton. The family will greet friends from 4-6 P.M., Monday, January 13, followed by a Masonic Service at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. Memorials in John's name may be left at the funeral home or the church the morning of the service. Memorials may also be mailed to the funeral home, please add Attn: Schermerhorn Family on the envelope.

John, the son of Arthur Orsen and Nina Mae (Wallace) Schermerhorn, was born on January 13, 1927 in Newton. He grew up in Newton and California, graduating from Newton High School in 1944. John served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He was united in marriage with Kathleen R. “Kay” Good on June 29, 1949 in Des Moines. They moved to California in 1952. John worked for the Department of Defense in charge of quality function for the space shuttle program and was involved with every space shuttle. He then worked as the Engineering and Quality Manager for Sargent Fletcher, working on military aircraft. In the late 1980’s he was a part owner of GNS Spices and introduced Habanero peppers to the United States. After moving back to Newton in 1990, he served as the Mayor from 1993-1995 and then worked as the Jasper County Emergency Management Coordinator, retiring in 2003.

Following Kay’s death in 2001, John was married to Karen Criswell Cope. John was a member of the American Legion Post 111, Newton Lodge #59 A.F. & A.M., Gebal Chapter #12, Royal Arch Masons, Malachi Council #55, Royal & Select Masters, Oriental Commandery #22, Knights Templar, Des Moines Scottish Rite Consistory, 32nd Degree Shriner, Golden Kiwanis, Last Man’s Club, 40 & 8, and the First Christian Church. He enjoyed politics and woodworking, but most importantly his family. He liked going to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s sporting events and activities.

Those left to honor Johns’ memory are his wife, Karen Schermerhorn of Newton; children, Deborah Schermerhorn of Boulder City, Nevada, Martin (Lilly) Schermerhorn of Claremont, California, Aleta (Joseph) Palmiotto of Dell Rapids, South Dakota, and Jeffrey (Sandra) Schermerhorn of Henderson, Nevada; his step-sons, Scott and Corey Cope, both of Centerville; 12 grandchildren, Tracy, Peter, Aaron, Joshua, Janos, Erika, Matthew, Adam, John, Derek, Amanda, and Kaci; three step-grandchildren, Hannah, Joe, and Cash; 17 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Fred Schermerhorn, Lyndel Graham, Wally Schermerhorn, Roberta Brick, and Nona Yard; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Kathleen R. “Kay” in 2001; and two brothers, Thomas and Robert Schermerhorn; and a sister, Lorra Burkett.

If you would like to share your thoughts and memories, we will deliver your message to the family. ~ The Wallace Family Funeral Home, Newton, Iowa.