John R. Hugelen

FOREST CITY - John Hugelen, age 57 of Forest City, died Thursday, December 31, 2009 at his home in Forest City.



A Memorial Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 from 4 to 7 PM at Petersen Lund Funeral Home 505 N Clark Street in Forest City.



Inurnment will be in the spring at Crystal Lake Cemetery in Crystal Lake, Iowa.









John R. Hugelen was born in Forest City, Iowa on August 28, 1952, the son of Richard and Mabel (Haugen) Hugelen. He received his education in Forest City and graduated from Forest City High School in 1970. John was married to Sandy Hutson Riherd on May 23, 1996.





John made his home in Forest City and began his working career. Due to his failing health, John retired from the gas company, Black Hills Energy, after 30 years of service.





John enjoyed working with honeybees, his apple trees and gardening. ìIowa Johnî played fiddle and sang with the Cajun HotSoles Band out of Minneapolis. Through his music John and Sandy were able to travel and develop many lasting friendships.





John is survived by his wife, Sandy of Forest City; daughter Alyssa (Jaona) Rakoto of Forest City, step-children John (Ali) Riherd of Parkersburg, Iowa and Jodi (Travis) Washek of Minnetonka, Minnesota. Surviving grandchildren include Joshua and Arabella Rakoto, Kobe, Kale and Kendall Riherd and Tyler Sweers.





John is also survived by two sisters, LaVaughn (David) Ane of Santa Clarita, California and Sandra Larson of St. Paul, Minnesota and a brother, Eldon (Helen) Hugelen of Apple Valley, Minnesota; his in-laws, Betty and Gene Johnson of Forest City and sister-in-law Lois Hutson of Clear Lake and many nieces and nephews.





He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Mabel Hugelen and brother-in-law Roy Larson.



In lieu of flowers, the family wishes friends to direct memorials to Hospice of North Iowa.