John Allen Ward 1932 - 2017

WARD, BENNETT, PETERSEN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen- Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/29/2017 at 22:24:13

Sioux City Journal
29 January 2017

SIOUX CITY | John A. Ward Sr., 84, of Sioux City, died Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017, at the Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D., after a brief illness.

Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, with military honors conducted. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. today, with a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.meyerbroschapels.com.

John Allen Ward, the son of James Fed and Ola (Bennett) Ward, was born July 27, 1932 in Harrisville, Miss. John was raised and attended school in Harrisville.

On Aug. 17, 1950, John enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served until his honorable discharge on Sept. 8, 1953. During his time in the Air Force, he was stationed at the Sioux City Air Base, and this is when he met his future wife, Lois Petersen. They met on a blind date and were married on Sept. 1, 1952, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Sioux City.

They moved to Jackson, Miss., for a short time, and John attended Raymonds College to learn auto body repair. After returning to Sioux City, he worked at E and F Body Shop and then Brouillettes until his retirement. In his retirement years, he drove vehicles for several local dealerships.

John enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting and was the first of three generations to drive race cars. He was a lifetime member of the VFW.

John is survived by his wife, Lois of Sioux City; one son, John Ward Jr. (Lee) of Sioux City; two daughters, Sheryle Allen (Rick) of Sioux City, and Kathi Luebben (Don) of Moncks Corner, S.C.; seven grandchildren, DeAnna Brunson (Daryl), Jason Ward (Jodi), Jenny Dorenkamp (Ben), Kristy Luebben (David Cole), Julie Smith (David), D.J. Luebben (Tracey Weatherford) and Kelli Rivers (Anthony); 17 great-grandchildren; one brother, James Ward Jr. of LaGrange, Ga.; one sister, Sue Woodbury of Jonesboro, Ark.; other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter in infancy; and four siblings, Nelson Ward, Francis Robinson, Jean Childress and Bonnie Odom.