JOHN VEENSTRA OBITUARY
VEENSTRA, JOHN D., 71, of Temple City, California, formerly of Jefferson, Iowa, died, August 10, 2010 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center - Des Moines, Iowa due to an earlier fall and a brain hemorrhage, surrounded by his loving family. Private Graveside Services will be held Friday, August 13, 2010 at Jefferson Cemetery with military honors being conducted by Floyd Brown American Legion Post #11 & Jefferson V.F.W. Post #9599. Friends are invited to join the Veenstra family at a luncheon and visitation from Noon-2:00pm Friday at the Jefferson First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. A toast and celebration of life will take place at 5:00pm Friday evening at the Jefferson Elks Club. Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes, Clinton is in charge of arrangements.
John Dean Veenstra was born on June 7, 1939 in Jefferson, Iowa, the son of Ralph and Ruth (Neidigh) Veenstra. He married Barbara Makela on August 6, 1988 in Pasadena, California. John was a 1957 graduate of Jefferson High School. He then attended Northeast Missouri State. He enlisted in the United States Army. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he enrolled and graduated from Drake University. John was employed with Knight Ridder Newspapers, working in numerous papers around the country. He was also the Executive Director of the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce.
John served as past President of the Kiwanis Club Tallahassee, Florida, past Board Member of the Monrovia Rotary Club. He served as Treasurer of the Monrovia Boys and Girls Club, Board Member of the YMCA Monrovia, California, actively involved with Monrovia Reads, and a member of the Jefferson Elks Club. In 2006, John was named Volunteer of the Year of the San Gabriel Valley Boy Scouts of America.
John lived and enjoyed life to its fullest. He was an avid Jimmy Buffett fan, enjoyed watching all sports, while drinking his beloved Bud-Light, watching his favorite Florida State Seminoles and Denver Broncos. He enjoyed playing golf, carding a hole in one in Durham, NC and Azusa, CA. He enjoyed traveling and especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. John is survived by his wife: Barbara of Temple City, California, two daughters: Jody Wilken of Plantation, Florida, Jerri (COL Thomas) Isom, of Suffolk, Virginia; one step-daughter: Teri Neblung of Citrus Heights, California, one stepson: Bill Makela of Rosemead, California; six grandchildren: Jonas Wilken, Audrey Isom, Ruby Isom, Ashlyn Gibson, Alan Gibson, and Kacie Neblung; his mother: Ruth Veenstra and her husband: Horace Hedges of Jefferson, Iowa; one sister: Joyce (Bill) Evans of Urbandale, Iowa, his brother: Jim (Sally) Veenstra of Clinton, Iowa, and several nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Veenstra.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to City of Hope - Duarte, California.
Published by the Miami Herald on Aug. 13, 2010.