Flander, John

John Flander, 62, of What Cheer, died Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at Mercy Iowa City. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Grinnell. The committal service will begin at 11:45 a.m. at the Barnes City Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon today at Holland-Coble Funeral Home in Montezuma, with family present from 4 to 8 p.m. and a rosary service beginning at 7 p.m.

John Edward Flander was born Aug. 9, 1948, in Albia, Iowa, the son of Cecil and Esther (Hughes) Flander. He was a 1966 graduate of the Montezuma High School and later studied farm operations at Iowa State University.

John was drafted by the United States Army in 1968. After serving 18 months in Germany he received an honorable discharge in 1970. That same year John was united in marriage to Patricia Mohr on June 6 in Brooklyn, Iowa. In 1976, he formed a farming partnership with Ronald and Evelyn Galbraith. He was a member of Fuller-Sarvis American Legion Post 507 in Barnes City.

John is survived by his wife, Patty Flander of What Cheer; his parents, Cecil and Esther Flander of Montezuma; his three children, DeAnn (Scott

McBurney) McGinnis of Fremont, Neal (Kristin) Flander of Deep River and Eric Flander of Barnes City; four brothers, Dale (Beverly) Flander of Lynnville, Roger (Barb) Flander of Grinnell, Dennis (Mary) Flander of Montezuma and Larry (Pam) Flander of Ewart; four sisters, Mildred (Dennis) Stiechen of Swisher, Margaret (Tom) Wilson of Grinnell, Teresa (Kevin) Hartgers of Colfax and Marilyn (Aaron) Bailey of Des Moines. John's life was also blessed with five grandsons, Jacob McGinnis, Nathan McGinnis, Beau Flander, Ben Flander and Brodey Flander; and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Fuller-Sarvis American Legion Post 507 or the Barnes City Fire Department.