Jon Hatcher

JON D. HATCHER

Anamosa

On Aug. 3, 2016, Jon D. Hatcher died peacefully from heart and kidney failure that resulted from life-saving cancer treatments 20 years ago.

Jon was born in Missouri Valley, Iowa, on Sept. 8, 1935, to Ralph Lynn and Lena Melvina (Nelson) Hatcher. He moved to Eastern Iowa with his family before graduating from Mechanicsville High School in 1953. He attended Iowa State University. Jon served from 1958 to 1960 in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in White Sands, N.M., and Germany, traveling with the Redstone Missile.

On June 25, 1960, he was united in marriage with the love of his life, Cecilia McLaughlin, at St Patrick's Church in Anamosa. Jon worked for Maquoketa Valley REC for 40 years.

Volunteering for his community and his church was a lifelong passion. He served on the Grant Wood Art Festival and Gallery boards for over 38 years, on the Anamosa Hospital board for almost three decades, and the Anamosa Jaycees for many years, as well as three terms as mayor of Anamosa.

Jon was a volunteer baseball and basketball coach and umpire for many years. He and others were instrumental in the building of what is now King Field. A former scout himself, Jon volunteered as a Cub Scout and Webelos leader, even serving as one of the first Den Dads in the area. As a member of St. Patrick's Church, Jon served as chairman of the Fall Festival and

member of the Parish Council and St. Patrick's School board. He was a member of Knights of Columbus and a past Grand Knight. Serving as a trustee of Holy Cross Cemetery was an honor and source of great pride to Jon. Almost daily he was there making big and little improvements.

Besides their love of volunteering, Jon and Cecilia especially enjoyed spending time together and with family and friends, traveling both in the United States, as well as abroad. Their antique business also was a great source of joy. One of his last trips was to Washington, D.C., on an Eastern Iowa Honor Flight in the fall of 2015.

Being an avid sports fan, you would see Jon at many Anamosa Blue Raider sporting events, and those of his Glenview grandchildren.

Jon was well respected as a hard working, loving man of great integrity. He believed in putting others before himself even at the end of his life. His belief that "every day was a good day, some were just better than others," was a testament to his neverending faith and love for his family that helped him through many difficult health issues over the years.

He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Cecilia; children, Sharon (Greg) Kaczmarek of Glenview, Ill., Tom (Tina) Hatcher of North Palm Beach, Fla., Dave Hatcher and Lesley Jernigan of Cedar Falls and Mary (Dave) Martensen of Anamosa; his six beloved grandchildren, Julie, Andre and Anthony Kaczmarek, Michael and Lauren Martensen and Donelle Hatcher; siblings, Robert (Doris) Hatcher of Anamosa, Jerry (Jo) Hatcher of Palm Desert, Calif., Sally Hurt of Newton, Katy (Bud) Henkel of Bella Vista, Ark., Ruth E. Hatcher of Bella Vista, Ark., and Joanne Jenneman of Bellevue, Neb.; sisters-in-law, Florence Hatcher of Indianola and Kay Hatcher of Springfield, Mo.; and many nieces and nephews.

Jon was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Rodney, Keith and Paul; sister, Dianne Hanna; brothers-in-law, Galen Hanna and Robert Jenneman; and sister-in-law, Nancy Hatcher.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Anamosa, with interment in Holy Cross Cemetery. Father Scott Boone will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa, where a parish vigil service will be at 2:30 p.m.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Cross Cemetery, Anamosa; Jones Regional Medical Center; or Holden Cancer Center, Iowa City.