John Van Horn

Long-time Humboldt resident, John James Van Horn, passed away Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at the Humboldt Care Center North. A Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Father James Tigges, will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, April 4, 2016 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Humboldt. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Humboldt with full military honors by the Adams American Legion Post 119 and Sathers-Odgaard VFW Post 5240. Visitation is from 4-7 p.m. Sunday at the Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt. A parish rosary will be at 4 p.m. and parish scripture service at 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
John was born July 5, 1923 on the corner where he lived most of his life. John graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1941 and was a life-long member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where he served as an usher.
John was truly one of “The Greatest Generation” and proudly served his country in the US Army during World War II as a member of the 233rd Combat Engineers Battalion in Guam, Leyte, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japan. Following his honorable discharge, he began a lifelong career as the owner of Johnny’s Mobil Service on Hwy 169. He was also an area representative for AAA and U-Haul Trailer Rentals, as well as Toro products. Following his retirement in 1986, he worked part-time for ADF in Humboldt.
John was united in marriage to Doris Meyer on January 24, 1947 at St. Mary’s Rectory. He was very active in the Humboldt community, serving as Mayor, Councilmember, and on one of the boards for the City of Humboldt. He was involved in many local organizations as a volunteer including, Commander and Adjutant of the American Legion Post 119, Bingo Manager for St. Mary’s Church and the American Legion, and was one of the founders of the annual July 4th Fireworks Celebration. John was a member of the Humboldt Model A Club and loved to restore old automobiles and drove them in the many centennial parades that dotted the Iowa landscape in the 1960’s.
John is survived by Doris, his beloved wife of 69 years; his children, Jim (Becky) Van Horn of Dakota City, Susan (Ron) Sorlien of Parker, CO, Diane Messerly of Fort Dodge, and Shelley (James) Gagnier of Humboldt; 9 grandchildren, Jennifer Kehoe, TJ (Shannon) Van Horn, Don (Hillary) Van Horn, Amy (Shane) Feiman, Ann (Kevin) Krebs, Jay (Amy) Bohm, Jeff (Sheri) Bohm, Scott (Nicole) Zittritsch, and Matt Zittritsch. He is also survived by 12 great-grandchildren and three step great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Mary (Miller) Van Horn; brothers, Gene and Edward Van Horn; and sisters, Edith Soppeland, Agnes Tish, Mary Smith, and Frances Harbacheck; and son-in-law, John Messerly.