John Rex (1980)

REX, HAWKINS, CRIST

Posted By: Treva Patterson (email)
Date: 12/22/2006 at 16:41:48

Earlham Echo-Earlham, Iowa
January 31, 1980

Earlham City Council member John Rex died Friday, January 25 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines of a heart attack, he was 49.

John Rex was one of those people that helps a community stay glued together. "A great loss to the City of Earlham," said Mayor Neil Schardein, "when John was given a committee assignment, we knew it would be taken care of"..."a great individual to work with". The Earlham City Code calls for Rex's position on the council to be filled by vote of the City Council. This year Rex was appointed to the Public Safety Committee, Municipal Enterprizes and was Chairman of the Finance Committee.

John was also praised by fellow council member Rich Petersen, "John said many times that he had adopted Earlham as his home town and he wanted to make it a better place to live. He gave to Earlham the most precious gift anyone has to offer-himself."

He was a past captain of the Earlham Rescue Unit and a member of the state Emergency Medical Services Council, and he was instrumental in helping the community secure doctors.

"The Earlham School has lost a real friend in the passing of John Rex" said Earlham School Superintendant Paul Hopp. Rex served as chairman of the building committee in promoting a successful election of the bond issue for the new school addition currently under construction. He was an active member in the Athletic Booster Club and was serving on an Athletic Booster Club sub-committee to implove athletic facilities. "I will miss John's support in improving our school," Hopp said.

Rex was born in Des Moines and lived most of his life there. He was graduate of Drake University and was employed as District Manager of The Valley Shopper. He was formerly with the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce for 15 years. Before that he was Director of Admissions at Grandview College in Des Moines.

He is survived by two sons, Douglas and Michael John Rex of Earlham, a sister Hilah Hawkins of San Jose California, and an aunt Mrs. Ruth Grist of Des Moines.