John Iversen

John Iversen passed from this world peacefully at 9:39 am Jan 31, 2019 at Winsor Manor in Estherville after a long bout with Alzheimer's. John was born to Ruth and Chris Iversen Feb 10th, 1937 in Pierre, SD and grew up on a ranch near Wendte, South Dakota. Born a cowboy John was raised into a man with a strong work ethic and an independent streak a mile wide. Raised with one brother and eight sisters, he was happiest on the go and as a youth played as hard as he worked. There wasn't a dance within a hundred mile radius John wasn't up for and there wasn't a girl he was afraid to ask to dance. His family is confident that he's up in heaven asking all the prettiest angels to dance. John left the ranch and went on to work a variety of occupations including: a heavy equipment operator helping to build the Oahe dam, a rough neck in the Wyoming oil fields, mechanic, welder, farmer, and finally truck driver covering millions of miles across all of the lower 48 states. When it came to large equipment there wasn't anything he couldn't figure out how to run or fix. John worked hard everyday of his life, and even when his body and mind started to fail him, he was still working in his imagination. The stories of John's adventures always entertained his family even though they had heard many of them a million times. Through all his life John remained a cowboy at heart. John had a passion for animals, especially horses, and in his later years with his beloved dogs. His day was always brightened with a dog at his side. John loved his children and instilled that same work ethic, wanderlust, and love of animals into his son Chris and daughter Ann. He also loved to embarrass his kids whether it was going to the lake in a swimsuit and his cowboy boots or how he would continually talk to complete strangers for way longer than was comfortable. John was always caring for Jeanette his wife of 50 years, even after he wasn't really able to anymore. He is preceded in death by his father Chris, mother Ruth, sisters Lois, Mary, Christy, Flo, and Nancy. John is survived by his loving wife Jeanette, brother Frank, sisters Judy, Grace, Janet, son Chris, daughter Ann, three daughters from a previous marriage Jona, Barbara, Linda, numerous grandchildren, and great grandchildren. After a private viewing with the immediate family, John will be cremated and his ashes spread on the ranch where he grew up and loved so dearly. In lieu of gifts or flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in John's name to the Alzheimer's Association. www.alz.org