e Marines he found his job at the bank had been filled so he took a job at City National Bank in Clinton and worked there until 1950. On September 171950.0 John and Evelyn Hoffman were married at Zion Lutheran Church Elvira Iowa. They established their first home in Clinton. To make ends meet John held down three jobs. He took a position as Assistant Manager of a National Tea Store in Clinton and in the evenings worked a second job for MGM verifying ticket sales at the local theatre. His third job began each morning at 3:00 a.m. packing trucks with frozen foods for Lagomarcino's. A year later John and Evelyn moved to Lost Nation when he accepted a position as Manager of the First Trust and Savings Bank in Lost Nation Iowa. He also opened his own insurance and real estate agency in Lost Nation during this time. In 1962 he accepted employment with the Jackson State Savings Bank in Maquoketa. In May of 1966 John and his co-worker and friend Edward Tubbs left employment with Jackson State and jointly purchased controlling interest in Maquoketa State Bank.
John was employed in the banking industry most of his adult life and truly believed in the value of service to others. He was a founder and Co-Chairman of Ohnward Bancshares Inc. and served as a director for Ohnward and its four subsidiary banks. He was Bank Chairman and Senior Trust Officer of Maquoketa State Bank; Chairman of the Board of Tri-County Bank & Trust; Director of Gateway State Bank; and Chairman of the Bank and Senior Trust Officer of First Central State Bank. He was recognized by the Iowa Bankers Association as a 50 Year Banker and as an Honorary Board of Director for Living History Farms 1875 Walnut Hill Bank. He was an active member of First Lutheran Church of Maquoketa - serving on numerous committees bible study groups and the church council. He was an active Rotarian a three-time Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the V.F.W. and American Legion. Currently in addition to his banking positions John was serving as Chairman of the Board of Iowa-Midwest Insurance Company of Des Moines Iowa; Board Trustee for Eastern Iowa Community College; Chairman of the Board of the Jackson County Regional Medical Center Foundation (f/k/a the Jackson County Hospital Foundation); Treasurer of the Jackson County Sanitary Disposal Agency; and a Pearson Foundation board member.
In years past John was active on numerous boards and committees including MIDAS Stride Inc. and the Private Industry Council for SDA IX which represents area counties for the Job Training Partnership Act. He also had served as a board member for Mount St. Clare College President of the Maquoketa Country Club President of the Maquoketa Area Chamber of Commerce Treasurer of the Maquoketa Community School Board one of the founders and Treasurer for Peace Pipe Players and past board member of Thomson State Bank in Thomson Illinois. He enjoyed mentoring school children teaching Sunday School serving on the Girl Scout Council for years and being a host parent for several foreign exchange students from Brazil Norway and Turkey. Where John couldn't donate his time he made contributions to numerous organizations and charities. He was a firm believer in students getting their start at a two-year community college. In addition to volunteering his time and being with family John enjoyed golfing the beauty of the Maquoketa and Mississippi Rivers collecting clocks going to Hawkeye games cheering for the Chicago Cubs and traveling.
He is survived by his wife Evelyn three daughters and sons-in-law Karen & Terry Slattery of Maquoketa Kendra & Mark Beck of Maquoketa and Krista & Gene Grant of Preston 5 grandchildren 6 great grandchildren one sister Signe Rock of Grand Mound and two brothers Stanley (& Helen) Fagerland of Marshalltown and Robert (& Ida) Fagerland of Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his parents and his grandson Andreas.
A celebration of his life will be held at 7 P.M. Friday April 142006.0 from the First Lutheran Church in Maquoketa Iowa with Rev. Gerald Gjerde officiating. Visitation will be held from 2 to 7 P.M. on Friday April 142006.0 at the First Lutheran Church in Maquoketa Iowa. Private Graveside Services and Burial will be held on Saturday from the Mount Hope Cemetery Maquoketa Iowa. The Carson & Son Funeral And Cremation Services in Maquoketa is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers memorials are requested. Memorials may be made to any charity of your choice or to the Ohnward Foundation a local foundation which John helped establish to provide support to various area projects and charities.