John Ervin Thrailkill (2012)

THRAILKILL, GOLDEN, PIERCE, NEVITT, UMPHRESS, JACKSON, COVERDELL, DAVIS, SMITH, WRIGHT, EMBREY, DODE, CLAUSSEN, STOKLASA, MOORE

Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 12/18/2012 at 18:50:37

Obituary taken from Bethany Memorial Funeral Chapel pamphlet, Bethany Missouri.

John Ervin Thrailkill

John Ervin Thrailkill was born on September 20th, 1929 In Dexter, Iowa. He passed on Monday, December 3rd, 2012 in Bethany Care Center with his loving family by his side. He was the son of Charles and Myrtle (Boyle) Thrailkill.

Family
John is survived by six children and their spouses and children and grandchildren including:
• Becky Goldin & her husband Steve Pierce. Becky’s 5 children: Thad Nevitt, Kathryn Goldin Christine Umphress, Michael Goldin and Josh Goldin
• Diane Jackson and Pete Coverdell and Jeff Jackson.
• Dodie & Larry Davis have 2 children, Christine Davis and Tony Davis
• Jen Smith and Sarah, her daughter.
• Misty & Scott Wright and their children Eric and Amy.
• John A and his children Scott Thrailkill and Alicia Embrey, and their Mother, Cheryl Dode.
• John is survived by sixteen grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, two great, great grandchildren and his longtime friend, confidant and companion, Estelene Hobbs.
• He is survived by his sister Carol Claussen.
• He was preceded in his death by the children’s mother: Margaret, wife Ethel Stoklasa Thrailkill, his sisters Helen and Mary and brother, Wayne and two grandchildren Catherine Thrailkill and Stephen Shawn Smith.
John graduated from Earlham High School in 1949 and lived in Earlham, Iowa and Bethany, Missouri his entire life. John was a hard worker and had several careers over his lifetime. He worked at the Earlham Quarry, ran bull dozers for Harris Construction in Earlham, owned his own conservation construction company and was a “Road Dog” as he liked to call himself as an over-the-road trucker. The fields of Madison and Dallas County, Iowa are productive today as the result of the miles and miles of terraces and ponds John built.

Sometimes, John would get called out to clean up a local train derailment. John’s kids tell of closets full of tomato paste and Bit-O-Honey salvaged from wrecked train cars. He loved “getting” his deer every season and freezers were full of deer jerky and steaks and his beloved deer meat mincemeat pies.

John taught his kids to fish with long cane poles. He loved his spirits, from homemade dandelion wine to some good ole brandy. There was always a bottle in his truck. That brandy solved the chill when John and his grandson Jeff went on road hunts. John always said brandy will keep you healthy and cure the common cold -- while flashing that elf-like grin of his.

Community Service
One of his proudest accomplishments was being a member of the Masonic Lodge #97 Bethany, Missouri and being a Shriner. He was a dedicated member.

John was a Past Master of Bethany Lodge Chapter #97
Past High Priest of the Royal Arch Masons Bethany Chapter #80
Past Commander of Knights of Templar of Bethany Chapter #42
Past Master of Counsel of Cryptic Mason of Harmony Lodge Chapter #53 and other bodies
There were few people who could refuse John when he came around on the annual candy drive. And, John looked pretty comical stuffed in that Shriner Clown Car in local summer parades.

Children
John’s children tell me that their dad often came home from work and unpacked a lunchbox holding critters he found in the fields. Many a night brought a new baby for eye dropper feeding: Rabbits, turtles, field mice. Margaret put her foot down and said “no more” the day he brought a snake home and it got loose in the house.

Grandfather
John was an enthusiastic grandfather. He always gave the loudest toys, started many a child’s first coin collection, tickled them, teased them and gave many hobble-de-horse rides on his knee. It was against family rules for anyone but John to change the oil in a family members’ car, and you could always count on Good Friday potato planting in the gigantic family garden.

At the end, it was the grandchildren who helped see Gramps home to heaven. He was so proud of the State Girls Softball Championship Home Run Ball Amy gave him for his room. Amy’s pink pillow kept his arm from falling off the bed. Sarah sat by his bedside just before he died and Jeff sat with him after. Christine wrote his obituary and assembled the slide show. He was proud of all this grand and great grand children and they loved him.

Hobbies
He loved the Grand ole Opry, he loved the little grand ole opry, and he could square dance all night. John was a die-hard Dale Earnhardt fan and was often told he looked and acted like John Wayne. In many ways, John was a cross between Dale and the Duke. They were strong men and loved adventure and challenges. He loved to read books, follow the Kansas City Chiefs, watch Nascar, and you would think that his grand daughter Amy invented Softball as much as he followed her successes and bragged about her.

Toward the End
John was blessed to spend his final days in Bethany Care Center. He said it was the next best thing to home. There are countless stories of hearts he touched in the Care Center, he could be cantankerous but most figured out there was a tender heart inside him. John’s companion, Estelene, was his leading lady, but He was also a harmless flirt, teasing “Miss America” and “Hollywood” and offering friendship to his table mates and fellow residents. There are so many good, good people at the Care Center, staff and residents who worried about John and took care of him.

Big John, husband, significant other, father, friend, grandfather, great grandfather, traveler, road dog, hunter… John lived his life the way he wanted and he squeezed every bit of life he could out of his days here on earth.
Facts

Born: September 20, 1929
Place of Birth: Dexter, Iowa
Death: December 3, 2012
Place of Death: Bethany, Missouri
Occupation: Truck Driver/Heavy Equipment Operator
Organizations: First Baptist Church, Bethany
Survivors

John A. Thrailkill, Son
Becky (Steve Pierce) Goldin, Daughter
Dianna Jackson, Daughter
Jennifer Smith, Daughter
Misty (Scott) Wright, Daughter
Dodie (Larry) Davis, Daughter
Carol Claussen, Sister
Estelene Hobbs, Special Friend
15, Grandchildren
19, Great Grandchildren
2, Great-great Grandchildren
Preceded in Death By

Margaret Thrailkill, Spouse
Ethel Stoklasa Thrailkill, Spouse
Charles Thrailkill, Father
Myrtle (Boyle) Thrailkill, Mother
Services

Memorial Service

Monday December 10, 2012, 11:00 A.M. at Bethany Memorial Chapel. Funeral Home, 1000 N. 25th St. Bethany, Missouri 64424, Pastor Victor Buntin officiating.

Family Visitation

Monday December 10, 2012, 11:00 a.m. at Bethany Memorial Chapel Funeral Home

Memorial donations may be made to: Harrison County Hospice

Gravestone Photo
 

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen