John Bates, age 90, of Ocheyedan, Iowa, passed away on Monday, March 10, 2014, at South Shore Care Center in Worthington, Minnesota.
Memorial Services will be Thursday, March 13, 2014 at 10:30 A.M. at the United Methodist Church in Ocheyedan, Iowa. Rev. Shannon Pascual officiating. Burial of cremains to follow at Ocheyedan Township Cemetery in Ocheyedan, Iowa. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 12, from 3:00 to 8:00 P.M. with the family present from 5:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Andringa Funeral Chapel in Ocheyedan.
Online Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to www.andringafuneralhome.com
The Andringa Funeral Home of Sibley and Ocheyedan in charge of arrangements for John Bates.
Mervin John Bates was born on March 3, 1924, in Emmetsburg, Iowa. He was the son of Fred and Minnie H. (Akkerman) Bates. On April 24, 1924, he was baptized at his parents’ home. He lived his youth in Ashton and Ocheyedan, where he attended a country school and graduated from Ocheyedan High School. John served in the United States Navy as Seaman 1st Class and was honorably discharged in August of 1946.
He was united in marriage to Elnora Petersen of Ocheyedan, Iowa on December 16, 1949, at the Fred Bates’ home. John made a good life for his wife and six children for 50 plus years, farming in Osceola County. He worked for ASCS for 10 years.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Ocheyedan and a member of the American Legion Post #326.
His passion was spending time in his woodworking shop building many keepsakes. You would often find him enjoying playing cards with friends and family. John and Elnora celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1999. In 2000, they went on a cruise to Alaska with their family. They enjoyed traveling around the United States visiting children and sightseeing with friends. John attended the Honor Flight 2010. Even with his declining health, John would still talk to, joke with, and tease anyone near him. He was known for being a real softy to his grandchildren.
He passed away on Monday, March 10, 2014, at South Shore Care Center in Worthington, Minnesota.
He will be missed by his wife, Elnora; his children, Mervin W. (Mary Kay) Bates of Okoboji, IA, Ray A. Bates (Lorrain Bremer) of Kalispell, MT, Barbara J. (Gary) Schahn of Rockford, MN, Linda C. (Dean) Garner of Spencer, IA, Steven J. (Kristin) Bates of Welches, OR, Jim L. (Serina) Bates of Ocheyedan, IA; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 3 sisters and their spouses, and one brother.
