John Deklotz

John Deklotz

Shellsburg

John Deklotz, 79, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022, following a sudden illness.

Memorial Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. Sixth St., in Vinton, with the Rev. Douglas Woltemath officiating. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. A memorial fund has

been established.

John was born on July 2, 1943, in San Francisco, Calif., to Louis John “Louie” and Margaret Anne “Peg” (Millburn) Deklotz. He graduated from Shellsburg High School with the class of 1961, where he served as a cheerleader. John was united in marriage to Judy Hartz, on Aug. 6, 1987, at the Lake of the Ozarks.

John was a dedicated John Deere farmer in the Shellsburg area, and also operated Deklotz Trucking, retiring in 2018. He truly loved to farm. John had an adventurous spirit and an outgoing personality. He drove dirt track stock cars in his younger years. He was musically inclined and was a huge Lawrence Welk fan. He was active in his community, as a member of the Shellsburg Lions Club and served on the Shellsburg School Board. His greatest joy was socializing with his many friends and especially his family. John loved hanging with his friends and family on the river near Prairie du Chien. He was known as the french-fry guy for hosting his annual french fry day. Being on time was not a virtue that John embraced…he always ran on Deklotz time.

He is survived by wife, Judy; children, Regina (Mike) Smith of Urbana, Rikki (Brenda) Deklotz of Shellsburg, Brenda (Gus) O’Connor of Center Point and Stephanie (Jacob) Bridgewater of Shellsburg; nine grandchildren, Tyler and Bailey Smith, Riley Deklotz, Amber Deklotz, and Kassidy (Travis) McCombs, Cody (Amanda) Alberts, Kenzie O’Connor, Chayce (Brycelyn) O’Connor and Makayla Moeller; two great-grandchildren, Leeam McCombs and Barrett McCombs; his mother, Peg Deklotz of Shellsburg; three sisters, Sharon Young of Nevada, Margie (Denny) Lohrer of Shellsburg and Linda (Jim) Hertzberger of Cedar Rapids; and his brother, Gary (Rae) Deklotz of Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his father, Louie Deklotz

Online condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com.