John Phillip JUST

JUST, BASGALL, MEYERS, SMITH, BANTA, MCVEY, SCHAEFER, BEACHY, MEINTS, FREEZE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/19/2012 at 11:47:54

October 29, 1923 --- January 16, 2012

BELMOND, IA - John Phillip Just, 88, of Belmond, died Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Mason City, surrounded by his loving family. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Belmond. Monsignor Joseph Slepicka and Deacon Jerry Teymeyer will be officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by the Belmond Military Unit will be in the St. Francis Catholic Cemetery near Belmond. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond. There will be a parish rosary service at the funeral home at 4 p.m. Thursday and a Christian wake service and time of sharing at 7 p.m. at the funeral home Thursday. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church Friday. Those wising to express their sympathy through a memorial in John's name may wish to consider the Belmond Veterans Center, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the Children's Garden on the walking trail, Trees Forever or to their own choice.

John Just, the son of Jacob and Frances Basgall Just, was born on Oct. 29, 1923, Belmond. He attended country schools in Plum Grove near Lake Cornelia and then town schools in Alexander, Thornton and Sheffield, Iowa, where he played baseball and softball. He had to leave school after the 10th grade to help on the family farm, where he drove a four-horse team for field work. He helped with the thrashing, milking cows and tending to the livestock. He talked often of his horse, Cricket, and hitching up the wagon to take the cream and eggs to town to sell. He loved to reminisce about playing cowboy on his horse, tell stories about his days of thrashing and stretching barbed wire.

John was a World War II veteran who flew his flag proudly. He served his country from Dec. 11, 1945, until he was honorably discharged as a private first class. John spent part of his military tenure in Okinawa. John's military occupation was a halftrack driver. He drove his Hqs. Btry 274th AFA, drove fire direction equipment, .50-caliber machine gun ammunition, and carried men, equipment and supplies. John made minor repairs to the halftrack, made daily inspections and routine repairs to the halftrack, made daily inspections and routine checkups and was a cannoneer. He had received commendations including the Victory Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon. He was proud to share about his stature of 5 feet, 5 inches and 160 pounds, and was recognized as the situp champion of his platoon.

John was united in marriage to Amy Meyers on Sept. 18, 1949. Their marriage was blessed in the Catholic Church on Oct. 13, 1952, by Father Ormsby. They made their home in Belmond, where they raised seven children. John was employed for a time with Spahn and Rose Lumber Co. and Tomco Seed and Acco Seed companies where he was given the nick name "Yogi." He retired in 1988 and continued to remain active doing odd jobs mowing lawns, tilling gardens and blowing snow.
He truly loved spending time with his family and friends. He loved to fish, listening to country music and playing his harmonica. He was an avid sports fan and loved to watch football. He favorite teams were the Iowa Hawkeyes and Minnesota Vikings. John truly enjoyed going to the races and cheering for his great-grandson, Zac and the Belmond Boys. John had a love for animals, especially horses. He loved a buggy ride on Sunday afternoons when possible. He was very adamant about feeding his birds and squirrels and loved to sit and watch them eat. He always had a garden full of vegetables and a huge variety of flowers planted in the yard. He loved to sit outside and soak up the sun and just enjoy the day.

John was a strong and gentle man with a cunning sense of humor. He was never afraid to show his emotions. He adored and was mutually adored by his family and friends and never missed an opportunity to give them a kiss and hug and tell them he loved them. He treasured every birth as his family grew and mourned deeply for everyone he loved and lost. He had been a member of the VFW. John was a lifetime member of the Catholic Church. A prayful Christian man with a powerful belief in God. He will be remembered by all who crossed his life journey as a man with a boundless love for others, a warm and welcoming character who was very much "Happy Go Lucky."

Those left to cherish the memory of John's life and legacy inlcude his son, Garland Just and wife, Roxie, Webster City; daughters, Judy Smith and husband Jim, Fran Banta and husband Lou, Bobbi McVey and husband, Brian and Mary Schaefer, all of Belmond, Iowa, and daughters Donna Beachy, Mount Vernon, and Lori Meints and husband, Darin, Goodell. His grandchildren: Mike, Cathy, Katie, Jennifer (Jason), Sara, Paul (Kris), Robby (Lisa), Steve (Brenda) Tom (Dawn) Danny and Melanie, Nathan (Laura), Jake (Yuri), Kelly (Carly), Jennifer (Jarod), Amy (Eric), Josh (Kristie), Jackie (Bill), Jessica (Ryan), Stephany (Justin). Great-grandchildren: Erica, Morgan, William, Bethany, Shey, Emma, Lincoln, Dillan, Max, Zac, Makenzy, Linzey, Jordan, Connor, Kylie, Claire, Cohen, Khale, Taylor, Tristan, Vanessa, Mia, Tyson, Kaden, Ian, Grady, Kirby, Jacob, Spencer, Ethanm Makayla, Evan and Liam. Step-grandchildren: Tom, Teya, Nathan, Josh, Natasha, Traci, Dan, Troy (Brooke). Step-great-great-grandchildren: Tiffany, Chyann, Kelsey, Baylee, Morgan, Olivia, Alek, Erik, Emma, Lizzy, Paige, Katie, Allison, Colten and Liberty. Survivors on the Just side of the family include Donna Freeze and family, Larry and Robert, Betty and Sharron. Cousin Mary Just and sister-in-law Marilyn Just, nephews, David Just and family and Randy Just and family; Robby Just and family; and Jamie Just and family. Also many great-nieces and great-nephews and countless friends. John was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Amy, Feb. 21, 2000; brothers Jake, Adam, Alex and John Just; sisters Margaret, Elizabeth, Ann and Katie; grandchildren Karen, David, Roslyn; and great-grandchildren Shelby Jo and Kaleb. Andrews Funeral Homes, Belmond, Iowa.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
January 19, 2012