John Henry Molitor

Mass of the Christian BurialMonday, March 12, 10:30 AM Annunciation Church Coon Rapids, Iowa Visitation Monday, March 12, 2012 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM Annunciation Church Coon Rapids, Iowa Celebrants Father Andrew Hoffman      Deacon Louie Meiners Message In Music Faye Seidl, Organist      Annunciation Choir Lector Carlene Dorpinghaus Gift Bearers Brandy Nagl      Leah Vogl Casket Bearers Jimmy Kennebeck      Mike Nagl      Jim Molitor Kevin Dorpinghaus      Tyler Prenger      Matt Prenger Honorary Casket Bearers Thomas Rest Haven      John Grettenberg      Doyle Gymer Steve Kult      Doug Lloyd      Carol O’Tool      Joni Bock JoAnn Claussen      Linda Free      Carolyn Hart Interment With Military Honors Gurney Parker Post 357 of the American Legion Coon Rapids Cemetery, Coon Rapids, Iowa Johnson & Woodhouse Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements.    John Henry, son of John and Christina (Lambertz) Molitor, was born August 11, 1920, at Carroll, Iowa. He grew up near Lake City where he attended country school through the eighth grade. John then worked as a farmhand and for the Civilian Conservation Corps.    On October 15, 1942, John was drafted into the United States Army and served in the European Theatre of Operations and North Africa with the Medical Battalion of the Ninth Infantry Division. On September 31, 1945, he was honorably discharged from Fort Sheridan.    On October 27, 1945, John was united in marriage with Ruth L. Morrow at Lake City. The couple first made their home in Manson where John worked with the Iowa Highway Commission. He then worked as a mechanic in Gowrie and Coon Rapids retiring in 1986.    John was a member of the American Legion in Coon Rapids and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Scranton. Throughout the years, he enjoyed fishing, bowling, woodworking, tinkering with anything mechanical and overall keeping busy with his hands. He was affectionately called “Johnny Crocker” for his ability to bake angel food cakes for his granddaughters.    In 2009, John became a resident of Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids, Iowa, where he died on Friday, March 9, 2012, at the age of ninety-one.    John is survived by: his wife Ruth Molitor of Coon Rapids; a daughter Barbara J. Vogl of Carroll; a son Randy Molitor and special friend Dianne Westfall of Salem, Oregon; three grandchildren: Christine Beeson of Des Moines; Brandy Nagl and husband Mike of Farnhamville; Leah Vogl and fiancé Jeremy Kennebeck of Carroll; five great-grandchildren: Marissa, Macie and Max Kennebeck and Caleb and Noah Nagl; three brothers: Marvin Molitor of Storm Lake; Allen Molitor of Winnetka, Illinois; Alvin Molitor and wife Jo of Carroll; and by nieces, nephews, other relative and friends.    He was preceded in death by his parents; a son-in-law LeRoy Vogl; grandson Johnathan Bryant Molitor; sister Viola Selzer and husband John; brother Larry Molitor and wife Lydia; brother-in-law Ken Morrow and wife Florence; and a sister-in-law Marjorie Baldwin and husband Willard.