John Stookey

JOHN STOOKEY

Palo

John Sheldon Stookey, 95, of The Meth-Wick Community, Cedar Rapids, formerly of Palo, was born Sept. 23, 1919, to Sam and Bertha (Kocher) Stookey.

He lived his young life on a farm northwest of Palo and fished and played in Bear Creek. When John was 9 years old, his father died, so he started farming in earnest. He, his mother, brother and sister were able to keep the farm going. John attended Palo Consolidated School, where he drove the school bus and graduated when he was 16 years old.

John married Gilda Minor on April 5, 1943, and thought he was the luckiest man in the world. Gilda passed away in 2012. In their 69 1/2 years of marriage, they traveled a long road, and, as they both would say, a good one. Together they farmed the Stookey farm. Together they opened and ran Palo Welding. Together they raised three children. Together they were blessed with 10 grandchildren and a fine collection of great- and great-great-grandchildren. Each addition to the family brought additional joy to their lives.

John also served in the Army Air Force during World War II welding airplanes. He was a 67-year member of the Palo American Legion.

John was a gentleman and a gentle man. He treated all with respect and fairness because he was sure that most of them deserved it. He especially enjoyed children, thinking they were a special gift to the world. There were often young visitors in John's welding shop because he liked talking with children and he made toys! This resulted in hula hoops for probably every child in the west end of Palo. As the children grew older, the toys he made changed to stilts, can walkers and go carts.

John enjoyed his work in the welding shop because it gave him the opportunity to help others. He repaired all farm machinery, built wagons, carts, loading chutes, hog waterers and more. He spent many cold evenings thawing frozen pipes so homes and livestock could have water. Having been a farmer he knew the job never ends at 5:00. The creative side of his work was fun for him. He made decorative railings and, if he needed a machine that he didn't have or couldn't afford, he built his own. He could shape hot-rolled steel in his forge to make the specific pieces and parts he needed. He said blacksmithing was the work he loved and, thankfully, the other welding shop work allowed him to earn a living.

Education was important to John. Basically a self-educated man, he and Gilda did everything they could to ensure their children's education beyond high school.

John felt laughter was good for people. He was fond of jokes – good or bad – and thought puns were a delightful addition to daily life.

John passed away on April 5, 2015, which would have been he and Gilda's 72nd wedding anniversary.

He is survived by their children, Mary Ann (Jack) Jackson, Ron (Sue) Stookey and Tom (Rose) Stookey, as well as the grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, three sisters and three brothers.

Graveside services will be 11:15 a.m. Friday, April 10, in Palo Cemetery, followed by an 11:45 celebration service in the Palo Methodist Church, where John attended throughout his life, and then lunch in the church fellowship hall. Pastor John Howerton will lead the services.

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

John's family offers heartfelt thanks to all who cared about him throughout his life and, more recently, all those who cared for him.