John Ver Hoef Jr.

John Ver Hoef Jr., 87, of Forest City, formerly of Leland died Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.

Memorial services will be held 10:30 A.M., Saturday, September 13, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Forest City with Rev. Charles Layton officiating. Inurnment will be held at the Madison Township Cemetery. Upon his wishes he was cremated and there will be no visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Forest City United Methodist Church elevator building fund or the Mansion Museum Historical Society.

John Ver Hoef Jr. was born November 19, 1926 in Hollandale, MN, the son of John and Grace (Roetmen) Ver Hoef. He was married to Marjorie E. Peterson on November 9, 1947 in the West Prairie Lutheran Church in Leland, Iowa, to this union one son, Robert was born.

He was drafted into the United States Army in 1952 during the Korean Conflict and served sixteen months overseas. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1954.

John worked for Alfred Petersen Construction Co. as a carpenter for many years until he established his own construction business until his retirement. John and his wife Marjorie also owned and operated Ver Hoef Grocery Store in Leland from 1969-1979.

He also served as a fireman on the Leland Fire Department and served on the Leland City Council.

John enjoyed hunting and the many hunting trips to Wyoming with his friends and son.
He also enjoyed traveling, gardening, listening to music, especially patriotic songs. He was a collector of Studebakers and was a member of the International and State Studebaker Clubs where he enjoyed traveling to different meeting and events with other enthusiasts.

He was a life-long member of the Forest City United Methodist Church where he served on church boards and also ushered. He was also a long time member of the Leland V.F.W. Post# 6161 and Forest City American Legion and also the Winnebago Historical Society with his wife Marjorie. John enjoyed the times he spent with his friends and family and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie of Forest City; son, Bob Ver Hoef and fiancée Pam Richardson of Leland; grandchildren, Susan (Eric) Thoreson of Forest City and Captain Greg (Sara) Ver Hoef of Lakeland, FL; great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Kassie, Corey and Makayla Thoreson and Preston and Hayden John Ver Hoef; sister-in-law, Sharon Holland of Forest City and brother-in-law, Roger (LeAnne) Peterson of Lake Mills, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sibling, Katie Thovson, Herman Ver Hoef, Jean Gahon, Nancy Steffan and Frances Ver Hoef.