Walton, John W.

John W. Walton, 87, of Bemiji, Minn., formerly of Mount Vernon, Iowa and Bena, Minn., died Friday, June 25, 2010, at Neilson Place in Bemidji following complications of surgery. Services: 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 30, at the Lisbon United Methodist Church, by the Rev. Tom Mattson. Family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion. Burial: Mount Vernon Cemetery, with military honors.

Survivors include five daughters, Angela (Victor) Phelps of Bemidji, Minn., Lori Trottier (Jerry Carlin) of Cedar Rapids, Julie Gollobit (Andy Blinks) of Lisbon, Diana (Howard Jr.) Gollobit of West Branch and Joyce (Wallace Jr.) Almquist of Davenport; a brother, Donald (Betty) Walton of Mount Vernon; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Stearns of Walford; six grandchildren, Joy, Jill, Gabrielle, Joshua, Kaitlin and Tyler; four great-grandchildren, Caleb, Samuel, Maciann and Addison; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; two daughters, Pamela Johnston and Isla Walton; and a sister, Beryl.

John was born July 24, 1922, in Mount Vernon, Iowa, to Joseph and Iva (Beach) Walton. He attended school in both Glenwood and Mount Vernon, graduating in 1941. After graduation, he worked on a farm for his cousin, Phil Carney, for two years until he was drafted by the Army in the fall of 1944. John was proud to be a World War II Army veteran. He served as a sergeant with Company D 1st Infantry in the Philippines and South Korea. His awards include Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Army Occupation Medal Japan. He was honorably discharged in August 1946. He married Shirley Stearns on Jan. 22, 1945, at the United Methodist Church in Lisbon. They made their home and livelihood on the family farm where they moved to in 1946. They raised cattle, pigs and sheep, and also crops of grain, along with seven beautiful daughters. After 56 years together, Shirley passed away on Nov. 8, 2001.

While still farming, John made numerous trips to northern Minnesota with his buddies to go fishing and fell in love with the area. After retiring from farming in 1977, he moved his wife and two daughters to Bena, Minn. He kept busy logging for many years and also helped out at area resorts. He was an avid outdoorsman; besides farming and fishing, he also enjoyed hunting, trapping, gardening, hunting morel mushrooms, berry picking and spending time with family and friends. In his later years he did a lot of walking and watching sports on television, and occasional fishing trips. He also enjoyed having coffee with the “boys” every morning at Birch Haven Village. John was a member of the American Legion for 63 years.

Memorials may be directed to 606 W South St., Lisbon, IA 52253.

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