John 'Jack' R. King

John “Jack” Richard King, 82, of Mason City died January 8, 2013 at the Muse Norris Hospice Unit in Mason City. Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Elmwood – St. Joseph Cemetery, 1224 South Washington Ave. with Pastor Ed Bard of Hospice of North Iowa officiating. There will be no visitation, upon Jack’s wishes he was cremated. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the John “Jack” King memorial fund in care of the family. Lunch and fellowship will follow at the VFW, 1603 South Monroe Avenue, Mason City, Iowa. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com. John was born on November 7, 1930 to Howard and Annabelle King in Waterloo, Iowa. After graduating from East High School in 1948, John worked at the Rath Packing Company in Waterloo. He went on to enlist in the U.S. Army and served his country as a medic in the Korean War in 1951. After his honorable discharge from the military, John attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and was awarded his bachelor’s degree in Education in 1959. He then went onto earn his master’s degree in Education. He initially taught social studies for five years in Parkersburg, Iowa. His career then brought him and his family to Mason City. He taught Social Studies at the Mason City High School for the rest of his career. He retired in 1989, but continued teach night classes at Buena Vista University. John married Ruth Slater on April 2, 1951. They would have four children together with their first child, Robert, dying in infancy. Two daughters, Billie and Laurie, and another son, Steve, would follow and would complete their family. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was a nature lover and enjoyed spending time hunting, fishing, camping and simple walks in the woods. His enjoyment of the sun and the outdoors was instilled in his children from an early age. He also enjoyed working in the yard. Planting trees and other activities would keep him outdoors. Later in Life, John and Ruth were snowbirds, spending their winters in Texas. John also was an avid gun enthusiast enjoying visits to the local gun range to do some target shooting and cowboy competition action shooting. When indoors, John also had many hobbies. He would make scale models of World War II airplanes based on blueprints of the real planes and then would build them to scale using wood framing. He paid great attention to details on his models with all parts movable and functional. John also enjoyed classical music, playing cards, apple pie and dark chocolate. He was also an avid reader and traded books with his children and grandchildren. He also looked forward to his weekly breakfast club with his teacher colleagues. John is survived by his wife, Ruth; Daughter, Billie Cory and grandsons Damon (Heidi) Cory and Ben (Lisa) Cory; Daughter, Laurie (Jay Thomas and grandsons Garrett (Sarah) Havnen and Marcus (Keara) Thomas (Great grandson, Teaghan); Son Steven King; sister Leann (Dan) Hughes and son-in-law Dick (Kim) Cory. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and an infant son. “The whole life of the swimmer is one of courage and adventure. All of it builds to the climax and the end. When the swimmer dies, he has spent himself completely for the end for which he was made, and this is not sadness. It is triumph.”

Cemetery:
Elmwood - St. Joseph Cemetery

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the John “Jack” King memorial fund in care of the family.

Visitation:
There will be no visitation, upon Jack’s wishes he was cremated.

Service:
Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Elmwood – St. Joseph Cemetery, 1224 South Washington Ave. with Pastor Ed Bard of Hospice of North Iowa officiating.