Johnny Slaymaker

Johnny Slaymaker

Guernsey

Johnny Slaymaker, 86, of Guernsey, died on Dec. 10, 2022, at Brooklyn Community Estate, in Brooklyn.

Funeral services are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Guernsey United Methodist Church, with Pastor Doug Dauenbaugh offciating. Organist will be Milly Purvis. Pallbearers will be Kurt and Loring Heitman, Dave and Doug King, David Slaymaker and Scott Steffen. Burial with military rites will be in the Ohio Cemetery, south of Ladora. Visitation with the Slaymaker family present will be held from 1 to 1:30 p.m. at the church.

Memorial contributions may be designated to the Guernsey United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Johnny was born Nov. 18, 1936, at the family home in rural Millersburg, to Forrest and Beatrice Coover Slaymaker. His family moved to a farm in rural Guernsey in March of 1943. Johnny lived on the family farm until he graduated from high school. He bought a house in Guernsey shortly after graduation, where he lived until 2019, when he was moved to Brooklyn Community Estate, where he resided until his passing.

Johnny graduated from Guernsey Consolidated School in 1955 and then started working for Amana Refridgeration. He attended classes at Indian Hills Community College, in Ottumwa, on blueprint reading. This enabled him to get the job of Quality Control Inspector in the sheet metal department. He was employed at Amana for 44 years retiring in 1999. After his retirement from Amana, he was employed part-time for Hy-Vee Foods, beginning in 2000 for 18 years.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in November 1958 and served until November 1960. He took basic training at Fort Hood, Texas and served in Germany. He went to Germany by ship and returned by ship, which he was not fond of. He was a tank crew member of the 37th Armor Division.

On Dec. 9, 1967, Johnny was united in marriage to his best friend, Irene Augusta Davis, at St. James Lutheran Church in Victor. They were married for 44 years before Irene passed away Jan. 24, 2012. They enjoyed having friends over to visit and playing cards.

Johnny was a member of the Guernsey United Methodist Church since his childhood.

Immediate family members surviving are seven siblings, Nadean Wandling of Marengo, Gerald (Kris) Slaymaker of Guernsey, Vernon (Joanne) Slaymaker of Ottumwa, Judy (Bob) Howe of Urbandale, Jerry (Reta) Slaymaker of Guernsey, Linda Njamfa of Des Moines and Steven (Kim) Slaymaker of Belle Plaine; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by a very special friend, Bonnie Morton of Guernsey.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene; his parents, Beatrice and Forrest; a brother-in-law, Lyle Wandling; and sisters-in-law, Dolores Slaymaker and Dorothy Davis.