John Edward Rhyan

John Edward Rhyan was born at Underwood, Iowa, February 15, 1927, the son of Joseph Daniel and Josie Mae Sexton Rhyan. The family resided at Underwood where John received his elementary education before being graduated from the Persia, Iowa High School with the class of 1944. Following high school John and his brother, Joe, farmed in the Dunlap for several years. In the early 1970?s John bought the General Store in Buck Grove, Iowa. He then began "The Countywide Dealership" which consisted of sales of feed, seed and fertilizer. Within the General Store John also operated a restaurant, catering to the locals and farmers for noon meals. At about the same time John purchased the General Store he also purchased land in Paraguay, South America. After retiring from the Countywide Dealership Business, John went to work at the Denison Airport where he was a groundskeeper and maintenance man. John?s hobbies included reading, traveling, coin collecting, spending hours and hours listening to his ham radio and he had a fascination for trains. John was a gentle person, first caring for his parents until they passed and later taking care of his brother, Joe. John had most recently resided at Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison. John died Wednesday afternoon, January 7, 2009, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 81 years, 10 months and 22 days. John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Joe. Those remaining to cherish his memory are John?s friends and neighbors. Memorial services were held at 7:00 p.m., Friday, January 9, 2009 at the Pfannebecker Funeral Home in Denison, Iowa, with Father Glenn Rankin officiating. A luncheon, catered by Hy-Vee, was held at the funeral home following the services for those in attendance. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.