John J. STERLING

STERLING, JONES, OFLAHERTY, DORENKAMP, JACKSON, HANSON, GLATZ, VAN DYKE, ANDERS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/29/2006 at 16:03:24

John Sterling, 57, Webster City, died July 31, 2006 in a motorcycle accident. A Mass of Christian Burial was held August 4 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church with Rev. Scott Boone, celebrant.

John James, son of John and Mary O'Flaherty Sterling, was born March 5, 1949 at Eagle Grove. He graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1967. He earned a marketing degree from the University of Northern Iowa. On August 8, 1969 he married Candis Sue Jones at Eagle Grove, and they lived near Webster City. He worked at F.G. Jones in Woolstock. They had a daughter and a son and were divorced in 1988. He also worked at Van Diest Supply. In 1996 he and Rod Ruppel purchased Webster City Recreational Vehicles. John's family and friends were very important, and he especially enjoyed building a future for Heather and Rory and watching them mature. John enjoyed the R.V. business and the people involved in making it a success. He enjoyed Canadian fishing trips to Barb's mom's place. His travels to Rome, London and Ireland to explore his Irish heritage made him proud. He personally planted over 100,000 walnut trees. John was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Highway 20 Corridor Association, the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association, and the Webster City A.B.I.

John is survived by his fiancé and partner of 16 years Barbara Dorenkamp, daughter Heather Sterling, son Rory Sterling, and his father, all of Webster City; siblings Marie (Tom) Jackson of Omaha, Ann (Dave) Hanson of Kyle, TX, and Joe (Marie) Sterling of Burnsville, MN; special cousin Betsy Glatz of Scottsdale, AZ; Barbara's family: Nancy (David) Anders and their children Brody, Davis and Aidan of West Des Moines; Kara (Neal) Van Dyke and daughter Emma of Apple Valley, MN; and Mark Dorenkamp of Mason City.

8 August 2006
©Belmond Independent 2006