John L. Wachter, 96, of Monona, Iowa died Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015 at his home in Monona, Iowa.
John Lyndon, son of John and Ethel (Wetzel) Wachter, was born June 25, 1919 at Prairie du Chien, Wis. He was baptized in the Zion Evangelical Faith on Sept. 15, 1919 by Rev. Lyndon C. Viel. His boyhood and youth were spent on the Wachter farm north of the city of Prairie du Chien, Wis. He graduated from Prairie du Chien High School in 1937. In 1942 he received his B.S. Degree in Agriculture and Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He taught vocational agriculture at Shullsburg and Hillsboro, Wis. and for 30 years at Monona, Iowa, for a total of 40 years, retiring in 1981.
On Dec. 30, 1944, he married Margery Ruth Hass, daughter of Frederick and Pearl (Thompson) Hass at the Pilgrim Evangelical Church, Monona, Iowa with Rev. Harvey Raduege, officiating. Margery died on May 5, 1996. John married Lynn Aitken on July 12, 1997 and were together for 18 years. They lived half the year in Monona, Iowa and half the year in Weaverville, Calif.
John’s interests include traveling, gardening, fishing, hunting, playing cards, and cheering for the Wisconsin Badgers. His achievements include serving on the Monona City Council in the 1950’s and as a member of Kiwanis Club for twenty-five years, holding the office in this organization of Lieutenant Governor for the Illinois-Eastern Iowa Division 15 in 1984-1985. Both John and Margery taught Sunday School classes for twenty years in the Monona Evangelical United Brethren Church from 1951-1971. He also belonged to Prairie du Chien Masonic Lodge 106, joining in 1944-1954, then transferring to Monona Masonic Lodge for a few years.
John is survived by his wife, Lynn of Prairie du Chien, Wis.; three children, John (Nancy) Wachter of Prairie du Chien, Wis., Janet (Gary) McNamara of San Diego, Calif., and Carol (Daniel) Pearson of San Diego, Calif.; four grandchildren, Brent Wachter of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ann (Josh) Winans of Manchester, New Hampshire, Colin McNamara of Seattle, Wash., and Ryan Pearson of San Diego, Calif.; two great-grandchildren, Kaylor and Lauren Winans; two sisters, Marion Sneeberger of Ephraim, Wis., and Kathleen Flitsch of Waseca, Minn.; in-laws, Harlan Hass of McGregor, Iowa and Ramon and Betty Hass of Columbus, Ind., along with numerous nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his first wife, Margery; his parents, John and Ethel Wachter; brother, Bob Wachter and sister, Betty (Wachter) Smith.
Visitation was on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015 from 2-6 p.m. at Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona, Iowa, with a one hour visitation before services at the church on Monday.
Funeral Services were at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, 2015 at Living Faith United Methodist Parish, Monona, Iowa, with Rev. Deninis Hopes as the Officiant.
Inurnment followed at Monona Cemetery, Monona, Iowa.
Condolences may be left at: www.graufuneralhomes.com
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Monona, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements.
