John Scharfenkamp

John H. Scharfenkamp, age 78, of Lidderdale, surrounded by his family, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2017 at Regency Park Nursing Home in Carroll. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll with Fr. James Tigges and Fr. Brian Feller Concelebrating. Music for the Mass will be by Kate Cuddy with the St. Lawrence Choir and All Strings Attached. Lector for the Mass will be Brad Steffen. Mass Servers will be Eli Scharfenkamp and Evan Bakke. Eucharistic Ministers will be Shirley Molitor and Lori Lloyd. Gift Bearers will be Clare Steffen and Tori Scharfenkamp. Casket Bearers will be John’s grandchildren. Burial will be at Holy Family Cemetery near Lidderdale. Friends may call at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll after 3:30 P.M. on Monday where there will be a Rosary at 4:00 P.M. and a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 P.M. Additional visitation will be after 9:30 A.M. on Tuesday at St. Lawrence until the time of Mass. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in John’s name and may be left at the church. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com Born on May 29, 1938 in Carroll, IA, John was the son of William and Dorothy (Simons) Scharfenkamp. He lived on a farm near Swan Lake until the 4th grade when his family moved to a farm near Lidderdale. John graduated from Carroll High School in 1956 and attended the Reisch School of Auctioneering in Mason City. He was married to Karen Rettenmaier on February 20, 1960 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda. John and Karen lived in the Lidderdale area until moving to their farm two miles west of Lidderdale in 1974. John truly loved his auctioneering profession and developed his skills at the Lake City, Irwin, Humbolt, and Carroll sale barns. In 1971, John joined the Carroll Livestock partnership with Gary Rupiper and Ed Bueltel of which he later became the sole owner. This business later became the Carroll Machinery Auction which is still in operation today under the direction of Randy Drees, a longtime friend and employee. John was also very active in cattle production and grain farming teaching his family the value of responsibility, hard work and commitment. John was a member of the Carroll Cattlemen’s Association, Carroll County Pork Producers, and the Moose Lodge. John was an active member of Holy Family Parish in Lidderdale, the Carroll Knights of Columbus, and he served as mayor of Lidderdale. John enjoyed family, fishing, and socializing with his many friends at several local events and establishments in the community including his favorite – in his chair, behind his desk, at Carroll Livestock Sales. John is survived by his wife Karen of 56 years of Lidderdale; two daughters: Lori Lloyd (Dirk) of Carroll and Lisa Scharfenkamp of Des Moines; three sons: Jeff Scharfenkamp (Sue) of Carroll, Tom Scharfenkamp (Teri) of Carroll, and Jon Scharfenkamp of Lidderdale; eight grandchildren: JJ Lloyd (Jamie), Cody Lloyd, Clare Steffen (Brad), Kate Fisher, Cale Scharfenkamp, Eli Scharfenkamp, Tanner Scharfenkamp, and Tori Scharfenkamp; a great-grandson Luka; two sisters: Janet Davis (Dick) of Jefferson and John’s twin sister Jean Berger (Joe) Des Moines; a brother Roy Scharfenkamp of Baudette, MN; a sister-in-law Betty Rettenmaier of Sioux City; a brother-in-law Bill Gard of Early, IA, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and good friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Robert Scharfenkamp and his wife Mary Jane, a sister Mary Ann Gard, two children in infancy Eric and Gerilyn.