John MATHAHS

MATHAHS, FURST, GRAFF, OLSON, KOCH, HEITLAND

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/16/2010 at 15:50:56

THOMPSON, IA — John Mathahs, 64, of Forest City, died Wednesday (Jan. 26, 2005) at Rochester Methodist Hospital. His funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Forest City with the Rev. Larry Kidwell presiding. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Thompson. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Winter Funeral Home in Thompson.

John Mathahs, son of Harry and Bertha (Furst) Mathahs, was born April 13, 1940, at Wesley. He attended school at Wesley, Ledyard, Lakota, Rake and graduated from Thompson High School in 1958.
On April 23, 1960, John was united in marriage to Carol Graff at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. The couple first lived on an acreage east of Thompson and John drove a cement truck for Thompson Ready Mix before moving to Forest City. There he worked in the bakery and at a chicken processing plant. John then worked as a farmhand near Klemme and Britt. In 1964, the young family moved back to Thompson and they began to farm. They moved to their home place in 1968, having milk cows, hogs, chickens and the fieldwork.
John was at home on the farm and enjoyed life the most there. He enjoyed the many day trips with the family since the chores weren't far away. During the mid-'70s, he and Carol enjoyed snowmobiling with their friends. John also enjoyed cooking and the family enjoyed his chili the most. Most of all, he supported his children and dearly loved his grandchildren.

His memory will be cherished by his wife, Carol, of Thompson; his five children, Julie Olson and husband, Tim, of Thompson, Jeff and wife, Laurie, of Garner, James and special friend, Lisa, of Ellsworth, Jay and wife, Gwen, of Thompson, and Joe and special friend, Sara Koch, of Thompson; his eight grandchildren; one great-grandson; two step grandchildren; his sister, Dorothy and husband, Clarence Heitland, of Mason City; a brother, Keith and wife, Virginia, of Las Vegas; sister-in-law, Sue Mathahs, of Thompson; many nieces and nephews; and by his loyal friend, Duke.
John was preceded in death by his parents; and by a brother, Dale Mathahs. Winter Funeral Home, Thompson, IA.

January 28, 2005
Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa