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Obituary for John Jacob Simons
John Jacob Simons, 43, of Des Moines passed away on December 1, 2014 at his home in Des Moines. Visitation will be held from 6-8 P.M. on Thursday, December 4th at All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart, with a Prayer Service at 7:30 P.M. Memorial Funeral Mass will be held at 10 A.M. on Friday, December 5th at All Saints Catholic Church in Stuart. A graveside service will be held 12:30 P.M. Monday, December 8, 2014 at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa. Memorial contributions may be directed to the John Simons Memorial Fund and sent in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.
John was born August 26, 1971 to Gene and Mary Ellen (Hawbaker) Simons in Guthrie Center, Iowa. He attended school at Dexfield High School and graduated with the class of 1990. He joined the National Guard in March, 1989; during his junior year of school and did his basic training at Fort Leonardwood, MO, that summer. After graduation, he completed his training at Fort Leonardwood. His unit, 1168 Transportation Company from Perry, were activated during Desert Storm and he served there from January, 1991 until June, 1991.
John became the proud father of his son, Kyle Joseph on August 22, 1993. He was united in marriage to Marcia Mentzer in August, 2007 in Carroll, Iowa.
John worked in Food Management at the Veteran’s Hospital in Des Moines. He said he felt humbled and honored to serve the Veterans at the Hospital.
John loved fishing, hunting, playing cribbage, attending Iowa Cubs baseball games, Des Moines Buccaneers hockey games and was a fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes. He enjoyed taking pictures and took pictures for weddings, family photos and graduations.
John is preceded in death by his brother, Richard Eugene; sister, Marilyn Kay Hoy; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Simons and Mr. and Mrs. Ira John Hawbaker; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Those who will cherish his memory are his wife, Marcia of Carroll; son, Kyle Simons of Portsmouth, OH; parents, Gene and Mary Ellen (Hawbaker) Simons of Casey; siblings, Theresa Armstrong of Des Moines, Marty (Michelle) Simons of Adel, Regina (Tony) Davis of Ankeny; brother-in-law, Randy Hoy of Adel; step-children, Erica, Jordon and Elizabeth Ocker and Lillian and Austin Dopheide; and god-son Jacob Gish. Also nieces and nephews, Christopher Armstrong of Fairfield, TX, Samantha Armstrong of Des Moines, Nathan (Kristina) Fritz of Fort Bragg, NC, Rachel and Katie Hoy of Adel, Chase and Colby Simons of Adel, Ana and Carter Davis of Ankeny; great-niece and nephew, Ava and Ethan Fritz of Fort Bragg, NC and a host of other family and friends that will miss him dearly.
A graveside service will be held 12:30 P.M. Monday at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. Guests should arrive at the cemetery and park behind the hearse at 12:15 P.M.