Funeral Services for John Weathers, age 86 of the Sutherland – Calumet, Iowa area, passed away on Monday, June 5, 2023 at the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa. His service will be at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at the Zion United Church of Christ in Calumet, Iowa with Rev. Dr. Lynn Dau – Officiating.
Burial will be in the Waterman Cemetery in Sutherland, Iowa.
Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 – 7:00pm on Wednesday at the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Paullina, Iowa
John Richard Weathers, the son of Albert and Pauline (Weise) Weathers was born December 12, 1936, on a farm in Cherokee County, Iowa. The family moved to a farm near Gaza, Iowa where John received his education, graduating with his bride to be Karen Rohlfsen with the Gaza Class of 1956. On August 5, 1956, the couple was united in marriage at the Zion United Church of Christ in Calumet, Iowa.  After their marriage the couple lived in Spencer, Iowa where John worked for a gas station and the packing plant until 1958, the opportunity to rent a farm north of Gaza came about, and then a couple years later they purchased a farm east of Gaza which became their family farm, where the couple farmed, and John sold feeder pigs for many years. In 1982 they moved to an acreage by Calumet and John continued to farm until ill health forced his retirement. John had been a resident of the Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley since August of 2018. He passed away there on Monday June 5, 2023, reaching the age of 86 years 5 months and 23 days.
He was a member of the Zion United Church of Christ in Calumet and had served on the church council. In 1960 he helped form the first softball fast pitch league which later became a slow pitch league. He managed the Gaza Town Team as well as being a player. As the players got older, they were in one last softball tournament against younger men and came out the winners for that tournament. John had a great enthusiasm for all aspects of life, including a love for buying, selling, restoring, and collecting just about anything. He enjoyed old cars and tractors the most, but he seemed to hold an interest in just about everything. John could strike up a conversation with anyone and he often did. He loved to visit with friends, neighbors and just about anyone who’d share a word with him, especially if they shared his love of farming. Knowing John meant knowing a dedicated, hardworking farmer. With his beloved wife Karen and their kids at his side, he grew and cared for cattle, hogs, chickens, and horses, and never failed to milk the cows. John had a lifetime of knowledge in what it took to be a farmer. He always got his crops planted in a timely manner (weather allowing) and knew that early planting, especially soybeans, would result in high yields. Though, his greatest pride was his family, and his smile gave it away when he was around them. He was always there to lend a helping hand, give advice, and pass down to his children and grandchildren the wisdom that comes from such a fully lived life.
John is survived by his wife of almost 67 years Karen Weathers of Sutherland, Iowa; their three children Lori (Jim) Jalas of Okoboji, Iowa; Mona (Dave) Fischer of Neola, Iowa, and Nathan (Tammy) Weathers of Primghar, Iowa 12 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and one more on the way; two sisters Alverta (LaVern) Gries of Sierra Vista, Arizona and Lorraine Kay of Holstein, Iowa also other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.