John Heineman Jr.

John Heineman Jr., 100, of Ogden, Iowa, passed away October 4, 2024, after living at Accura Healthcare of Ogden for nearly 4 months, following a fractured hip and complications of COVID infection.

A Celebration of Life Service for John will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 12, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church in Ogden. Inurnment will follow at Maas Cemetery, rural Ogden. Military Graveside Rites will be conducted by the Boone Veteran’s Council. Visitation will be Friday, October 11, from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m., at Zion Lutheran Church. For online obituaries & condolences please visit: www.carsonstappfuneralhome.com

John was born on the dining room table in a house his grandfather built, during the hottest day of the summer on August 15, 1924. His parents were John and Marie (Maas) Heineman. We have traced his four grandparent’s family lineage back to Germany, one as far back as 16 generations. All lived as German farmers and Christian church builders.

John attended country school in Amaqua Township until the 8th grade. He entered Ogden High School where he was active in FFA and animal husbandry. He presided as FFA president and exhibited Grand Champion Poland China Hogs. He graduated high school in 1941 at the age 16, and entered Iowa State University that fall.

In June of 1944, he was drafted into the Army and was stationed in Fort Knox Kentucky. Following basic training he was selected for advanced tank training. He joined the front lines serving in Patton’s 3rd Army 14th Armored Battalion during the end of the Battle of the Bulge. Following the end of the war, he helped feed and release POW’s from area concentration camps. He then completed his active service and transferred to military government. John was honorably discharged in June of 1946.

Months after returning from the service, he met and began dating Eldora Stumpenhorst, a country school teacher whose family had recently moved to the Ogden area from Nebraska. They were married on June 10, 1948.

John worked hard to continue a successful century farm operation introducing hybrid seed corn, soybeans, farrowing hogs in pasture plots, and feeding cattle on three sites. He planted corn with a four-row planter and knotted wire, harvested oats with a binder, horse pulled wagons, and threshing machine, and picked corn by hand during the depression. Yet he still had time to play baseball with his boys and spend time with his family at the lake on Sundays after Church.

He volunteered as a 4-H Leader, and was an active church member - even helping with construction in 1953. He served on the Board of Director’s for the Local REC for many decades and was an early Director of CIPCO Power Cooperative for the State of Iowa (rural electric power companies). He was honored to wear his military uniform and be the parade Marshall in the last Ogden Fun Days parade.

John was still farming, helping with field work, at the age of 91. After retirement he enjoyed woodworking, traveling, fishing, and spending time with family at any available moment.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife (75 ½ years of marriage), Eldora, two grandchildren, Grant Heineman, and Aaron Heineman at birth (due to prematurity and stillbirth), sister Bernice (Howard) Muench, and brother Irvin (Sally) Heineman. 

Survivors include three sons, Dr. Brian (Nancy) Heineman of Grinnell, IA, Craig (Martha) Heineman of Ogden, IA, and Paul (Mari Lynn) Heineman also of Ogden, IA; nine grandchildren, Dr. Anna Heineman & (Dr. Gary Heil), Dr. Kate Heineman & (Lee Henderson), Dr. John Heineman & (Lauren Seemann), Dr. Thomas Heineman & (Adelaide Subtil), Brett & (Sarah) Heineman, Laura & (Reid) Sorensen, Andrew & (Katy) Heineman, Marcus & (Leslie) Heineman, and Grant & (Emily) Heineman; 20 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, and their families. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to either: Zion Lutheran Church or the E.L.M. Street Preschool.