Youngwirth, John “Johnny” – 1936-2012

BECKER, CHALFIE, FREESE, GOETZ, KENYON, KRIEPS, MAY, RASMUSSEN, RUETER, YOUNGWIRTH

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/16/2024 at 11:43:05

Des Moines - John A. "Johnny" Youngwirth, died Monday, Sept. 3, 2012, in Des Moines. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Wesley. The celebrants will be Father Peter Duc Hung Nguyen and Father Tim Johnson. Internment will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Wesley. Flag Presentation by Andrews Post #428, Wesley.
John A. "Johnny" Youngwirth, first generation American, was born Feb. 20, 1936, at Algona, to John A. and Helen (Freese) Youngwirth. He attended St. Joseph's Catholic School through 8th grade and graduated from Wesley High School in the Class of 1954.
John worked at Robinson Produce and Feed after graduation. He married Carol "Toots" Goetz on June 5, 1958, in Wesley. He then entered the U.S. Army and served as a medic near Stuttgart, Germany. The couple lived in Germany for two years until John was discharged from the service. They moved back to Wesley where they owned and operated Johnny's Market for 24 years. He then worked as a carpenter and cabinet maker.
John was a dedicated community supporter and was instrumental in many projects including July 4th Celebration, the South Park, City Housing Project and community fundraising. He was a member of the Wesley Fire Department, City Council, township election board and many committees. He was also a devoted member of his church where he sang in the choir and dedicated his time and talent to many church projects.
John enjoyed camping, fishing, gardening, canning, woodworking, butchering, rock polishing and his many friends. He had more projects than he had time to finish and always had a trick up his sleeve.
John died on Labor Day, Sept. 3, 2012, at the Veteran's Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa, at the age of 76.
Survivors include daughter Gail and husband Kim Rueter of Grand Junction, Iowa, and their children, Kyle and Sean Kenan; daughter Dawn and her husband John Rasmussen of Wesley and their children, Devon (John) Kenyon and Patrick; great-grandchildren Connor and Carilyn Kenyon; son Ed and wife Staci of Lenexa, Kansas, and their children, Derek, Jill, Ryan, Natalie and Reese; son Joe and his wife Diana of Des Moines, Iowa, and their children, Ellie, Abbie and Emilie; son Tom and his wife Elizabeth of Windsor Heights, Iowa, and their children, George, Hannah, Jack and Theodore; and daughter Jill and her husband Michael Chalfie of Shawnee, Kansas, and their children, Lily, Luke and Grace. Also surviving is one sister, Alice May, of Algona and sister-in-law Ardell Youngwirth of Washington and a host of relatives.
John was preceded in death by his wife Toots of 53 years, his parents and siblings Ambrose, Richard, Larry, Luke Youngwirth and Dorothy Becker and Mary Krieps.
Published in Des Moines (IA) Register; Friday, September 7, 2012, page 4B