John Showalter Obituary, John Showalter of Hampton has died
- by Alex Danvers
John Showalter Obituary, Death – On November 17, 2022, John Edward Showalter, 71, of Hampton, died in his home. On Tuesday, November 22, at 10:30 a.m., memorial services will be placed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hampton, Iowa. On Monday, November 21st, visitation will take place at St. Paul Lutheran Church from 4 to 7 p.m. The services at St. Paul Lutheran Church will be broadcast live. The Hampton Cemetery will host a private family burial. The Hampton Sietsema-Atkinson Funeral Home is in charge of making funeral arrangements. John was born on January 26th, 1951, to Helen (Dohrmann) and Kenneth Showalter in Hampton, Iowa. He spent his formative years working on the farm with his parents, siblings, and father and was quite engaged in 4-H. He also enjoyed horseback riding. At a time when that was quite usual, he also spent a lot of time working and having fun with other nearby farm families.
John attended Iowa State University on a full scholarship and was a member of the fraternity Alpha Gamma Rho after finishing high school as the runner-up in the state of Iowa in high school wrestling two times. During John’s four years on the ISU wrestling team, the team won first, second, first, and first place at the NCAA National Tournament. John was patient and eventually won a spot on the varsity team his junior year as well as a letter. John had a fantastic season as a senior and made the starting lineup. Despite a severe shoulder injury, he managed to finish fourth and earn a spot in the NCAA Wrestling Tournament at the Big 8 Conference tournament. John lost against an eventual two-time NCAA Champion during the NCAA tournament, but he still managed to come back and place in the top 8, which in today’s period would be regarded as an All-American performance.
After graduating from college, John started working on the farm full-time alongside his father, brother Jim, oldest son Matt, and two nephews, Sam and Jake. John marketed Dekalb seed corn during his time as a farmer, and in the early 1990s, he was one of the state’s biggest independent Dekalb seed corn sellers. He had been a farmer all his life. In addition, John spent 28 years on the Hampton school board and spent his whole life serving St. Paul Lutheran in various roles.
Anyone who knew John was aware of his deep love for his boys and his family. Cheering on his children and grandchildren during their varied activities made for some of his greatest days. He went to countless band performances, FFA banquets, high school activities, and countless sporting events. For his sons and their teammates, he taped more than 2,000 wrestling matches on a VHS recorder over the years, according to his sons, and he relished every second of it.
John and Nancy joined two families and a combined seven kids when they got married in 2004. They embarked on numerous journeys, visiting China and destinations around the United States, such as Alaska and Hawaii. Together, they were perfect hosts for Showalter family reunions and their well-known weekends in “The Hamptons,” as well as for their children and grandkids. Together, they helped create enduring memories for their grandchildren at their lovely farmhouse, from tractor rides to their koi pond.
John was recognized for his ability to brighten any room when he entered it and was at his best when sharing a story with his family and friends. John didn’t have many interests because he was always on the go and those who knew him knew that he always had his foot firmly on the accelerator. He genuinely enjoyed playing cards with his close pals and socializing with anyone who was game.
Nancy Showalter is his wife. His children include Matt (Jori), Brett (Cathy), Quinn (Sarah), and Drew (Ali). Matt, Brian (Cassandra), and Lindsay Marron are stepchildren. Jack, Emma, Charlie, Luke, Sophia, Gabe, Owen, Will, Graham, Amelia, Vivian, and John are among the 12 grandchildren. and Jayden, Grayson, and Adaline, the three stepgrandchildren. Mary (Lynn) DeSotel, Chris (Wes), and Jim (Jean) Showalter are siblings. His parents Ken and Helen, as well as his young sister Lynda, predeceased him.
John Showalter Obituary, Death – On November 17, 2022, John Edward Showalter, 71, of Hampton, died in his home. On Tuesday, November 22, at 10:30 a.m., memorial services will be placed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Hampton, Iowa. On Monday, November 21st, visitation will take place at St. Paul Lutheran Church from 4 to…