John R. Hoodjer, 84, of Wellsburg, Iowa, died Saturday, August 6, 2005, at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa, of natural causes. Funeral services will be 1:30 P.M., Tuesday, August 9, 2005, at the United Reformed Church in Wellsburg, Iowa, with Pastor Harold Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Shiloh Cemetery in Wellsburg, with military rites provided by the Wellsburg AMVETS Post #91 and American Legion Post #213. Visitation will be Monday, August 8, 2005, from 5:00 P.M to 8:00 P.M. at Doyen-Abels Funeral Home in Wellsburg. Visitation will also be on Tuesday morning at the funeral home from 8:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. The family will be present on Monday evening to greet friends. A memorial fund has been established.
John Robert Hoodjer was born September 8, 1920, in rural Holland, Iowa, the son of John and Jennie (Heronimus) Hoodjer. He attended Colfax No. 5 School. In 1935 he moved with his parents to a farm west of Wellsburg. John was a U.S. Army Veteran of WWII, serving from 1942 to 1945, in the Philippine Islands and New Guinea. On September 3, 1943, John was united in marriage to Gertrude Meyer at the Second Christian Reformed Church Parsonage in Wellsburg. He was employed for a short time at the Jack Fisher Hardware Store and then farmed the Claus Neessen farm north of Wellsburg for twenty-eight years. After moving into Wellsburg he was briefly employed as assistant janitor at the Wellsburg School before working at Sunline Furniture in Eldora until his retirement in 1994. John made profession of faith in the First Christian Reformed Church in 1942 and transferred to the Second Christian Reformed Church in 1945. He was presently a member of United Reformed Church where he served as deacon and elder. He was a member of the Wellsburg AMVETS Post #91 and the American Legion Post #213. He enjoyed family reunions and attending family activities. John had been a resident of the Presbyterian Village in Ackley for the past fifteen months. He was a kind, compassionate man, devoted to his family and friends.
Those left to honor John's memory are five children: three sons Wayne Hoodjer and his wife Carol of Holland, Iowa; Gary Hoodjer of Wellsburg, Iowa; Jay Hoodjer of Newton, Iowa; two daughters Joyce Badrick and her husband Richard of Miles, Iowa; Carol White of Marshalltown, Iowa; one daughter-in-law Arlene Hoodjer of Wellsburg, Iowa; fourteen grandchildren Lonnie Hoodjer and his wife Jennifer of Cumming, Iowa; Dorene Smith and her husband Brian of Durant, Iowa; Danelle Willer and her husband Mike of Webster City, IA; Kelly Brenneman and her husband Wade of Haverhill, Iowa; Matt White and Samantha White of Marshalltown, Iowa; Brian Hoodjer of Des Moines, Iowa; Dana Hoodjer of Cedar Falls, IA; Janna Linville and her husband Troy of Camanche, Iowa; Jill Badrick of Davenport, IA; Josh Hoodjer of Ackley, Iowa; Tylor Hoodjer of Ackley, Iowa; Katie Hoodjer of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Derrick Hoodjer of Newton, Iowa; and twelve great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Gertrude on March 4, 2004; one son Leslie Hoodjer; one son-in-law Sam White; and six sisters Effie Buskohl, Jennie Bergman, Katie Harms, Dena Heikens, Tena Everts, and Grace Renken.