John Patrick Lally, Jr.

John Patrick Lally, Jr. was born at Vail, Iowa, February 16, 1919, the son of John Patrick Lally Sr. and Margaret Houlihan Lally. Surrounded by loving family members, John died at his beloved farm home near Denison, Iowa, Saturday morning February 13, 2016 having been blessed with 96 years 11 months and 27 days.Blessed with a heart of pure gold and a silver-tongued wit to match, John Patrick Lally Jr. for decades served as the treasured patriarch of a prodigious extended clan that took root in Crawford County and has grown across the land.Like a shepherd who tends his flock, young John instinctively learned the patriarchal role at a wee age. As the eldest brother of nine, he waited a year to start country school so he could safely escort his younger sister there and back and graduated high school from St. Ann Academy in Vail.On June 27, 1942, John was united in marriage with Regina Margaret Owens at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, Iowa.  His legendary hospitality and spontaneous one-liners captivated generations of people from all walks of life. Relatives, friends, co-workers, neighbors, pub patrons, parishioners, fair-goers and landfill clientele enjoyed his Old World charm and authentic good nature. Indeed, all those with whom he would cross paths on his life journey were touched in ways large and small by the grace and goodness of John Lally.The pride and joy of his legacy today celebrate a lifetime of love and laughter that he shared for 63 years of marriage with his bride Regina. Together their union brought eight children into the world and the family tree flourished to 29 grandchildren and 53 great- grandchildren. The farmhouse at the end of the country lane swelled to the rafters with good times that made for even better memories. Legend has it a beloved horse found its way up the bedroom stairs and stubbornly declined to come back down.Generations of “mugs” and “blockheads” loved to fish in Grandpa’s pond, pet the lambs, scale the door jambs in bare feet, bale hay with “Mario Andretti” and enjoy his famous fried eggs, cooked to perfection in three-inch deep bacon grease. Spending time under Grandpa’s supervision often turned into a trip to town where the grandkids enjoyed pop and candy and Grandpa got a dose of “medicine” at Harold’s Club.A softie at heart, John left the disciplining to “Mama” and with an Irishman’s charm and gleam in his eye, smoothed troubles away and pushed Regina’s buttons all at the same time. A lifetime of cross-country camper trips took them to 49 states and yet he and his bride agreed there was no place like home.The magic of their lifelong romance began on the dance floor. Through the years, the music of Lawrence Welk and the Polka Party would greet countless guests and well-wishers who daily crossed John’s doorstep. A few hours later, after a good visit and a shooter or two, company was invited to stay a wee bit longer and always reminded by their host, “ho-hum, come again!”.John and Regina’s marital vocation truly mesmerized all who watched as they glided through the decades with grace and fidelity to their faith and to their family. It was John’s faith in the Lord that brought him daily to St. Rose of Lima to light a candle each and every day his sons served in Vietnam.It was John’s faith that allowed him to see brighter days ahead during the darkest hours of the Farm Crisis.And it was faith and family that soothed John’s bereavement when Regina departed his side a decade ago on October 17, 2005. Fulfilling a promise he made to his wife, John and several of his sons and sons-in-law restored a 620 John Deere tractor the following year in 2006.For nearly a century, John P. Lally Jr. lived life to the fullest. He awoke at daybreak believing the new day would be even better than the last. It’s no coincidence that he advised his children to dream big and instructed his grandsons to “remember who you are and from where you come”.John lived by his own advice to take pride in one’s heritage minus the excesses of self-importance. He earned an honest living as a steward of the soil and punched a time clock for more than two decades to keep food on the table. The last surviving charter member of Iowa Beef Processors, he outlived the plant he helped build in 1959, when to his disappointment, IBP closed for good last year. John worked at the IBP plant in Denison until his retirement in 1980. It was here he earned the nickname “Iron Legs” from his co-workers. He came out of retirement to work for a dozen years at the Crawford County Landfill where he welcomed each customer with a ray of sunshine and a servant’s heart. For nearly a century, John’s love for people and deep-seated Catholic faith guided this gentle giant through the sunshine and through the rain, providing a spiritual and moral compass to steer him step by step around the next bend, blessed with a spring to his step and the wind at his back. A lifetime of caretaking and sacrifice returned full circle as John lived out his life at home, thanks to family members devoted to his care and wellbeing. As this beloved shepherd of the Lally flock departs the surly bonds of Earth for greener pastures up above, his clan takes comfort knowing that the match made in Heaven may once again dance as one, floating together across the celestial skies as guardian angels of and for the Lord. Together again, they may celebrate their shared birthday from now to Eternity.Until we meet again, John P. Lally, Jr., may God hold you in the palm of His hand. Those greeting John in heaven include his parents, his beloved wife, Regina, three grandsons: Michael Francis Lally II, Francis Paul Lally and John Joseph Lally; two daughters-in-law: Linda Lally and Paula Lally; three brothers: Joe, Martin and Francis Paul Lally; four sisters: Genevieve Pribyl, Theresa Haney, Jane Marie Thompson and Catherine Lawler and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Survivors include eight children: Mary Margaret and husband Charles Daniel of Charter Oak, Iowa, J. Patrick Lally III and wife Jane, Dennis E. Lally, Joe Lally and wife Carol, and Eileen T. and husband, Joel Sailer all of Denison, Iowa, Michael Lally of Lawton, Iowa, Jerry Lally and wife Patty of Denison, Iowa and Jane E. and husband Warren Brown of Granger, Iowa; 29 grandchildren: Patricia Franke, Charles Daniel, Christopher Daniel, Cheryl Ward, Jay Lally, Greg Lally, Erin Nelson, Jennie Stevenson, Theresa Mulligan, Denise Goss, Rebecca Albers, Corrine Jenkins, J.J. Lally, Micha Lally, Meghan Wellsandt, Martina Rogers, Melissa Kearney, Melani Sailer, Michaela Matthiesen, Maura Sailer, Ryan Lally, Rob Lally, Joanie Buller, Nathan Lally, Emma Lally, Molly Klatt, Emily Amdor, Allison Howard, and Michael Brown; 53 great grandchildren: Zac Franke, Amanda Franke, Erin Daniel, Jake Daniel, Kody Ward, Loralee Ward, Nick Miller, Cory Miller, Claire Miller, Mae Lally, Brenna Nelson, Laney Nelson, Hallie Stevenson, Ty Stevenson, Cole Mulligan, Jaelyn Mulligan, Reed Mulligan, Hunter Goss, Libby Goss, Maddie Albers, Carissa Albers, Briley Albers, Ty Jenkins, Karly Jenkins, Malory Jenkins, Brooke Herbst, Claire Herbst, Dominick Herbst, Shane Wellsandt, Reece Wellsandt, Ty Wellsandt, Josef Rogers, Ana Rogers, Kate Kearney, Claire Kearney, Quinn Kearney, Chloe Kearney, Murphy Hoyt, Maguire Hoyt, Madigan Hoyt, McDermott Hoyt, Mary Margaret Matthiesen, Ryan Matthiesen, Minnie Matthiesen, Isaac Buller, Evann Buller, Landen Klatt, Makenna Klatt, Makaylie Klatt, Logan Klatt, Makenzie Klatt, Langston Klatt, and Elouise Howard; one sister: Helen Dieter of Cedar Falls, Iowa; three sisters-in-law: Mary Lally of Denison, Iowa, Mary Jane and husband Ace Schrunk of Missouri Valley, Iowa, and Louise Owens of Carroll, Iowa; brother-in-law James V. Haney of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota; and a host of other relatives and friends. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 18, 2016, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison, Iowa, with Father Paul Kelly as Celebrant. Others participating in the mass included Servers: Ana and Josef Rogers and Mary Margaret Matthiesen; Lectors:Grandchildren-Jennie Stevenson, Denise Goss, and Michaela Matthiesen; Gift Bearers: John’s Godchildren-Patricia Franke, Martina Rogers, Gerilynn Metschke, and Mary Helen Jones; and Eucharistic Ministers: Carol Lally, Theresa Mulligan and Micha Herbst. Music for the mass was provided by St. Rose of Lima Adult Choir singing “How Great Thou Art” and “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”, Soloist Christian Matthews singing “Ave Maria” and “Song of Farewell” and Bagpiper Joanie Lally Buller playing “Amazing Grace”. Jean Cornelius served as accompanist. Honorary Pallbearers were IBP and Crawford County Landfill Co-Workers and Pallbearers were Grandsons: Dr. Charles J. Daniel, Jr., Christopher J. Daniel, Jay P. Lally IV, Greg O. Lally, J.J. Lally, Ryan M. Lally, Robert J. Lally, Nathan G. Lally, and W. Michael Brown. Interment was at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery, Denison, Iowa. Following the graveside rites and burial, the family invited everyone to join them at the St. Rose Parish Center for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by Staley’s Catering and St. Rose of Lima Ladies Guild. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , was in charge of arrangements. A Rosary was prayed at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 17, 2016 with a visitation following from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and a Parish Vigil at 7:00 p.m. at the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, Denison, Iowa. The Parish Vigil was led by Father Paul Kelly and solos by Christian Matthews singing “Old Rugged Cross”, “O Danny Boy”, and “You Raise Me Up” with Jean Cornelius accompanying and James Haney singing “The Parting Glass”. Memorials may be directed to St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Denison, Iowa