John Dwayne Fromm
July 20, 1961 — December 15, 2015
John Dwayne Fromm was born on July 20, 1961 to Peter and Therese (Kaufman) Fromm in Harlan, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance, Iowa, where he remained a life-long member. He attended Sts. Peter and Paul and St. Boniface Catholic Schools before graduating from Harlan High School with the Class of 1979.
He began his farming career right after graduation. He was passionate about the outdoors, from maintaining his garden and canning, especially pickled beets, to watching the birds, knowing about native grasses and flowers, enjoying wildlife, and landscaping. He was considered a social butterfly and thoroughly enjoyed helping people.
John was united in marriage to Paula Nielsen on July 2, 2011 at St. Peter’s in Defiance, where he served as a lector at church for over thirty years. He also taught his nieces and nephews to drive when they were almost old enough, loved fireworks, and his community.
John died suddenly on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at the age of fifty-four years, four months, and twenty-five days but because of his giving nature and willingness to help others, his spirit will live on because of his selfless organ and tissue donation. He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife Paula Fromm of Defiance, Iowa; his brother Pete Fromm and his wife Marla of Ankeny, Iowa; sister Mary and her husband John Detlinger of Manning, Iowa; his mother and father-in-law Paul and Jan Nielsen of Harlan, Iowa; sisters-in-law Cindy Hagle and Bonnie and her husband Randy Grote all of Harlan; nieces and nephews; other family members and many, many friends.
He began his farming career right after graduation. He was passionate about the outdoors, from maintaining his garden and canning, especially pickled beets, to watching the birds, knowing about native grasses and flowers, enjoying wildlife, and landscaping. He was considered a social butterfly and thoroughly enjoyed helping people.
John was united in marriage to Paula Nielsen on July 2, 2011 at St. Peter’s in Defiance, where he served as a lector at church for over thirty years. He also taught his nieces and nephews to drive when they were almost old enough, loved fireworks, and his community.
John died suddenly on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at the age of fifty-four years, four months, and twenty-five days but because of his giving nature and willingness to help others, his spirit will live on because of his selfless organ and tissue donation. He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife Paula Fromm of Defiance, Iowa; his brother Pete Fromm and his wife Marla of Ankeny, Iowa; sister Mary and her husband John Detlinger of Manning, Iowa; his mother and father-in-law Paul and Jan Nielsen of Harlan, Iowa; sisters-in-law Cindy Hagle and Bonnie and her husband Randy Grote all of Harlan; nieces and nephews; other family members and many, many friends.
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