Obituaries : John H. Kearns

Vinton—John H. Kearns, age 83, died Saturday, March 26, 2011 at the Vinton Lutheran Home following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home in Vinton with Rev. David Gates officiating. Burial at Evergreen Cemetery with Flag Presentation by the Iowa Military Funeral Honors Guard. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 28, at the funeral home and from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Tuesday.

John Henry Kearns was born April 16, 1927 on the family farm north of Vinton to Henry and Clementine Carter Kearns. He graduated from Vinton High School in 1944 and joined the U.S. Navy to serve his country during WW II. On June 12, 1949 he married Shirley Brock in Cedar Falls. John and Shirley farmed near Vinton for more than sixty years. Shirley preceded him in death on December 31, 2010. In addition to farming, John worked for local home builders and helped construct several area homes. He was a member of the Emil H Dutler American Legion Post in Mt. Auburn. In their spare time, John and Shirley enjoyed playing cards.

He is survived by his son, Dan, and wife, Myra, and their sons, Lukas and Maxton, all of Vinton; his sister, Dorothy (Bob) McGowan, Mesa, AZ, and brothers, Jimmy (Linda) Kearns, Vinton and Tommy (Lynn) Kearns, Donnellson, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

A memorial fund has been established.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home is caring for John and his family. Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.