John B. Strack, age 93 of Pocahontas, formerly of Paullina, passed away on Thursday, March 22 at the Arlington Place of Pocahontas, Iowa.
Funeral service will be Monday March 26th at 11am at the St. Peter Lutheran Church of Pocahontas, with Pastor Paul Bengtson officiating. Burial will be at a later date.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the services at the St. Peter Lutheran Church of Pocahontas.
John Benson Strack was born May 28, 1918, in Blue Earth, Minnesota. He was the son of Jacob and Anna (Benson) Strack. He graduated from Paullina High School in 1936. John enlisted in the U.S. Army – Air Core during WW II, where he served as a flight instructor. Following his military service, John attended the University of Iowa where he earned a Master of Arts Degree. On June 16, 1949, John married Marilyn Weems in Paullina. The couple lived in Manchester for 3 years where John taught all levels of school art. In 1953, they moved to Primghar. In O’Brien county, John pioneered a county wide teaching program where he traveled to 22 rural and 10 town schools, teaching elementary and junior high art courses. In 1977, John and Marilyn moved to Paullina and in 1979, John retired from teaching art after 26 years of service. Marilyn passed away in 2003.
John was a member of the Paullina Presbyterian Church, American Legion and Lions Club. He served on the Paullina Library Board and the O’Brien County Conservation Board. He enjoyed painting and traveling with Marilyn with their camper and RV. John especially enjoyed his grand and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include his daughter, Patricia (Perkins) Patton of Las Cruces, NM; sons, Steven (Michelle) Strack of Papillion, NE and William (Kirsten) Strack of Pocahontas; grandchildren, Travis (Holly) Strack, Tiffani Strack, Elizabeth (Douglas) McGraw; Nicole (Brian) Tjaden and Kyle (RaeAnn) Strack; great-grandchildren, Jacob & Madison Strack; Katelyn, Ashley & Joseph Strack; Cierra, Amelia & Kaydence McGraw; Cade & Ava Tjaden, and Bentley Strack and a sister, Marian DePoister of Chandler, AZ.
John was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Marilyn
Powers Funeral Home of Pocahontas is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences and obituaries, visit www.PowersFH.net.
