JACK O. YEAROUS

By Editor | November 4, 2020 |

Jack O. Yearous passed away peacefully on October 26, 2020, at the age of 82.
He was born February 3, 1938 in Gravity, IA, to Lenn and Hazel Yearous. His parents divorced and he spent his youth helping his Dad on the farm. Jack belonged to the New Market Saddle Club and won many awards, both locally and at Aksarben in Omaha, NE on his horse named Joker. Football was his sport in high school. He was the only center to score a touchdown in 6-man football his senior year. He graduated from New Market High School in 1956 and worked driving a semi for Bill Orr of New Market, IA.
Jack married his high school sweetheart, Jean Richey, on June 5, 1960, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Clarinda, IA. They were the proud parents of three children, Juliane Denise, Jerald Lenn and Joni Annette, and fortunate enough to celebrate 60 years together.
When Jean took a teaching position in Mount Ayr, IA, Jack went into the feed business at Prentis Hatchery, grinding feed for the farmers. He later worked at the Mount Ayr Mill and Feed, Dredge Feed and Jobe Chevrolet and earned feed trips to Bermuda and the Calgary Stampede. He enjoyed working with the farmers and he made many friends over the years. He raised baby pigs and baby calves and let his children enjoy feeding the calves.
Jack accepted Jesus as his Savior in 1960 and was baptized at Hope Lutheran Church in Maryville, MO. Church was important to Jack and Jean and when there was no Lutheran Church in Mount Ayr, they held the first church service in their living room. Later a chapel was built and finally the First Lutheran Church building on the east edge of Mount Ayr. When Jean played the organ, Jack had responsibility of keeping the kids in line. One glare was all it took.
Jack had many hobbies, one of his first hobbies was racing. You would find him and his friends with their heads under the hoods of race cars getting them ready for Friday night’s big event. He also enjoyed playing golf with the family. He taught the children from an early age to swing the golf club and saw that they had lessons. When they were on the golf team in high school, the family would take the camper each spring break to Arkansas for early practice and fun times. Although he was never a long-ball hitter, he earned the nickname, Straight-away Jack as you could count on him to always be in the fairway. He also enjoyed playing cards and was the self-proclaimed champion cribbage player. The rest of the family proved him wrong on many occasions! He could also be found at “poker night” at the Country Club or down at the “Dead Beat” Club. The game of bridge was a favorite for Jack and Jean and they played when they could find a game.
Jack was a loving father and spent time with his family. He was a Troup Leader for his son, Jerald’s, Y Indian Guides and they spent many hours building cars for the Pine Wood Derbies. Each summer the family would take a camping trip. He ensured the family went to the east coast and Washington, D.C., plus west coast and Disneyland. Colorado was a favorite destination as well.
Jack was involved in the community by being a member of the JCs, helping in the building of the Mount Ayr Golf and Country Club when it changed from sand to grass greens, and participation in the Mount Ayr Bi-Centennial with neighbors and family.
Jack retired in 1999 and he and Jean took to the road in their various motor homes. They were lucky enough to visit all 50 states, including one long trip up the AlCan Highway to Alaska and ultimately going to their 50th state, Hawaii, on their 50th anniversary.
When their daughter, Joni, got transferred to Texas, Jack and Jean sold the farm in 2001 and bought a home near her in Flower Mound.
Jack played chauffeur to the grandkids by taking them to karate, soccer and piano while Jean ensured they got their homework done.
After traveling a number of years, Jack and Jean settled in Apache Junction, AZ, where they enjoyed their winters with retired friends and family. They were accused of never being home as they wintered in Arizona and summered in Colorado! After Jack’s stroke in 2014, the motor home was sold, but their daughter, Joni, still made sure that they got to AZ in the fall and back in the spring.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Lenn and Hazel, his daughter, Julie Schwalbe, his sisters, Jill Yearous and Ramona Gibson, half-sister, Marianne Hagan, brother-in-law, Harold Gibson, sister-in-law, Jacquie Richey and grandsons Jamison Yearous and Troy Jack Yearous.
Jack is survived by his wife, Jean Richey Yearous, son, Jerald, daughter, Joni and fiancé, Brian, Smiley, grandchildren, Chase (Fallon) Schwalbe, Stefanie (Kyle) Dorsey, Courtney (David) Adams, Nathan Woollums, Lindsay Woollums and Jacob Yearous plus six great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is in charge of the arrangements.
Services were at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2020 at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mount Ayr, IA.
Officiating was Rev. John Rutz.
Musicians were Greg Storhoff and John Allen.
Songs were “The Lord’s Prayer”, “How Great Thou Art”, “Beautiful Savior” (Congregational Hymn) and “I Can Only Imagine”.
Casketbearers were Chase Schwalbe, Courtney Yearous Adams, Nathan Woollums, Lindsay Woollums, Jacob Yearous and Kyle Dorsey.
Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery at Mount Ayr, IA.
Memorials are to Alzheimer’s Association in Jack’s name.