Carpenter, John Lee

John Lee Carpenter, 68, of Central City, passed away Monday, Aug. 12, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. Memorial Service: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 16, at First United Methodist Church, Central City, by Pastor Josh Hansen. The family will greet friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Central City.

Survivors include his wife, Karen; four children, Lora Cook, Dona (Kelly) Schmidt, Pamela (Chris) Noska and Nicholas Carpenter; nine grandchildren, Brent (Krysta), Tony, Travis, Austin, James, Dalton, Kolin, Dylan and Aaron; three great-grandchildren, Jason, Mykenah and Brylei; one sister, Irene Lochner; and five nephews and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Buck and Lucille Carpenter.

John was born Oct. 31, 1944, in Central City, the son of Buck and Lucille (Wood) Carpenter. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy having served during the Vietnam War. John married Karen Byers on June 28, 1969, in Central City. He worked for Linn County as a maintenance operator for 35 years. John loved the great outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting and was a member of the Central City Volunteer Fire Department for 18 years. He was also a lifetime member of North-Linn Fish and Game Club.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in John's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for John at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Aug. 14, 2013.