John Beitz

JOHN MAX BEITZ

Hopkinton

John Max Beitz, 79, died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, at his home following an extended illness. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at Hopkinton Community Church with visitation at 10 a.m. Burial will be in the Hopkinton Cemetery. Pastor Jan Lamont and Pastor Cheryl Gates will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello. Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; two children, Nancy (Brice) Lubben, Delhi, and David (Kim) Beitz, Tiffin; five grandchildren, Taylor, Bailey and Mason Lubben and Ryan and Claire Beitz; and his sister, Geraldine Bley, Gilbert, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Galen.

John Max Beitz was born Dec. 19, 1938, at John McDonald Hospital, Monticello, Iowa. He was the son of William G. and Edna Bronemann Beitz. Max graduated from Hopkinton High School with the class of 1956. He played baseball and basketball in high school and later competed in the town team softball leagues.

Max and Carol were united in marriage on June 2, 1963. They shared over 54 wonderful years together on their farm near Hopkinton. Farming was Max's life. He and Carol worked together raising hogs and cattle.

In 1973, he received the Delaware County Outstanding Young Farmer Award, received the Delaware County Master Pork Producers Award in 1979, was a 4-H leader for the Hopkinton Hawkeyes, served on the Delaware County Beef Producers board, and received the Iowa Simmental Association Christensen Elite Award in 2003. Over the years, he had the High Selling Simmental Bull at the Iowa Beef Expo several times. In 2011, he was the Delaware County Cattleman of the Year. In July 2017, his farm was officially declared a Century Farm after being in the family since 1884. Max also sat on the board of directors for Citizens State Bank in Hopkinton since 2004.

He had a strong faith in his Lord, Jesus Christ, and was blessed to have the love and support of his church family. He was a lifelong member of the Hopkinton Community Church, where he sang in the choir and taught Sunday school for over 30 years. He loved farming the land, raising his Simmental cattle and spending time with his family and friends. He was able to keep farming with the help of his cousin's son, Chad Beitz, and was still helping with chores until six weeks before he went to be with his Savior.