John B. Whited
October 6, 1924 — July 4, 2019
John Bertin Whited was born at East Boyer Township, Crawford County, Iowa October 6, 1924, the son of John G. Whited and Alice Sophie Mesenbrink Whited Petersen. He was raised in Denison and attended Denison schools until he entered the Navy in April of 1943. He served his country in New Caledonia and the Marshall Islands until his discharge in 1946. Upon completion of his service he returned to Iowa and enrolled in Iowa State College where he studied dairy science.
On September 10, 1947, John was united in marriage with Marjorie Ann Mohr at Manning. Their union was blessed with four children, Diana, John, Marcia and Berton. They resided in Ames while John completed his education. before moving to Sioux Rapids where John, in partnership with his brother, Roy, operated a dairy. In 1949 they moved to Denison where they owned and operated White Star Dairy until his retirement in 1983. Other business ventures that Roy and John were involved in included Star Roller Skating Rink, PeeWee Store and ownership of several commercial real estate properties.
Following his retirement, John and Marjorie spent the next 28 winters at Rio Valley Estates in Weslaco, Texas. John was active in his church and community including being a long time member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Men, lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2504, member of American Legion Post 8 and Exchange Club (later the Denison Club). In addition, he served on numerous civic boards and was an avid promoter of everything Denison. His hobbies included wood working, hunting (he was still deer hunting at 90!), he and Marjorie began camping in 1955 in the first of two campers he designed and built and were long time members of the Good Sam’s Camping Club. John enjoyed dancing, especially the polka, and he taught line dancing to residents at Rio Valley Estates. He purchased and restored a 1939 Ford which he loved to drive in local parades as well as participating in six Motor Iowa tours around the state.
In September of 2017, John and Marjorie moved to Swan Place, an assisted living facility in Carroll where he resided at the time of his death on July 4, 2019 at the age of 94 years, 185 days. Including his parents John, Alice, and step-mother Florence, John was preceded in death by two sisters Betty Detlefsen and Hertha Saxton; brother Roy; half-brother Dewey Whited; half-sisters Gloria Jean Whited, Kathryn Wulf and Mildred Rusch.
Those remaining to cherish his memory include his wife of 71 years, Marjorie; four children Diana, John and his wife Nancy Dunn, Marcia and her husband Peter Simons, and Berton and his wife Maureen; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his sister Gladys Rusch; half-brother Wilber Whited; half-sisters Shirley Flores, Rosalie Williams, Phyllis Schauf, Peggy Shumate, Ruby Ann Beerman, Darlene Justice, and Joleen Carstenson; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Memorials may be directed to Kindred Hospice of Carroll or the First United Methodist Church in Denison.
On September 10, 1947, John was united in marriage with Marjorie Ann Mohr at Manning. Their union was blessed with four children, Diana, John, Marcia and Berton. They resided in Ames while John completed his education. before moving to Sioux Rapids where John, in partnership with his brother, Roy, operated a dairy. In 1949 they moved to Denison where they owned and operated White Star Dairy until his retirement in 1983. Other business ventures that Roy and John were involved in included Star Roller Skating Rink, PeeWee Store and ownership of several commercial real estate properties.
Following his retirement, John and Marjorie spent the next 28 winters at Rio Valley Estates in Weslaco, Texas. John was active in his church and community including being a long time member of the First United Methodist Church, United Methodist Men, lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2504, member of American Legion Post 8 and Exchange Club (later the Denison Club). In addition, he served on numerous civic boards and was an avid promoter of everything Denison. His hobbies included wood working, hunting (he was still deer hunting at 90!), he and Marjorie began camping in 1955 in the first of two campers he designed and built and were long time members of the Good Sam’s Camping Club. John enjoyed dancing, especially the polka, and he taught line dancing to residents at Rio Valley Estates. He purchased and restored a 1939 Ford which he loved to drive in local parades as well as participating in six Motor Iowa tours around the state.
In September of 2017, John and Marjorie moved to Swan Place, an assisted living facility in Carroll where he resided at the time of his death on July 4, 2019 at the age of 94 years, 185 days. Including his parents John, Alice, and step-mother Florence, John was preceded in death by two sisters Betty Detlefsen and Hertha Saxton; brother Roy; half-brother Dewey Whited; half-sisters Gloria Jean Whited, Kathryn Wulf and Mildred Rusch.
Those remaining to cherish his memory include his wife of 71 years, Marjorie; four children Diana, John and his wife Nancy Dunn, Marcia and her husband Peter Simons, and Berton and his wife Maureen; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his sister Gladys Rusch; half-brother Wilber Whited; half-sisters Shirley Flores, Rosalie Williams, Phyllis Schauf, Peggy Shumate, Ruby Ann Beerman, Darlene Justice, and Joleen Carstenson; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Memorials may be directed to Kindred Hospice of Carroll or the First United Methodist Church in Denison.
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