The surname "Mead" goes back to the Old English, and means "dweller in or by the mead" (meadow or pasture land).
John Lawrence Mead was born on December 7, 1899, in Fairmount, Iowa, near Monroe; the son and youngest of four children of D. John and Katherine "Katy" Clary Holland Mead.
When John was 4 years old, the family moved to the state capital, Des Moines. In 1915, his father purchased a 240-acre farm 3 milesnorthwest of Marshalltown, Iowa. The family moved there in 1916.
John graduated as salutatorian from St. Mary's High School, Marshalltown, in the Class of 1917. He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, for one year. He was a tackle on the freshman football team and a member of R.O.T.C. During World War I, R.O.T.C. students were allowed to join the American Legion.
John married Elizabeth Josephine DeMuth on May 10, 1921, in McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa.
John farmed for 3 years with his brother, Edward Joseph Mead, on the family farm 3 miles northwest of Marshalltown. He started a milk route, with raw milk, in 1924, then moved the dairy from the farm to the basement of their home at 311 S. 6th St., Marshalltown, in 1925.
In 1931, he merged with Clint Hooven to form Modern Dairy. In 1932, the Mead family moved to 209 S. 4th St. in Marshalltown (where they remained), and the dairy was moved to 607 N. 3rd Ave.
In 1940, John bought out his partner's share and renamed it "Mead's Dairy." Deliveries were made to retail (home) and wholesale (grocery store and restaurant) markets. In 1958, Mead's Dairy became Mead's Dairy Incorporated.
The retail deliveries would start at 3 a.m. and be completed by 8 a.m. Then the wholesale deliveries would begin. There were about 40 wholesale stops to make every day. There were 47 small neighborhood grocery stores and 37 restaurants at that time. Out of the 37 restaurants, Meads delivered to 27 of them. By 1941, Mead's Dairy was the 3rd largest dairy in town out of 10. In the early 1940s, deliveries were made twice a day. At the beginning of World War II, wholesale deliveries were cut back to once a day, and retail to every other day, due to gas rationing.
At the 3rd Ave. site, in addition to the dairy, John owned a soft-service ice cream shop which he operated from 1951-1965. After closing the shop, he continued to serve as President of Mead's Dairy.
Mead's Dairy became Mead's All-Star Dairy, one of the premiere dairies in the state of Iowa. There were 17 routes, delivering milk to 15 counties, to over 14,000 families.
In the early 1970s, Mead's Dairy employed 45 people in the dairy and in the office. John continued as President of the dairy until his death.
His 3 sons were officers of the Mead's Dairy. John and Jim were Vice Presidents; Chuck was Secretary/Treasurer.
In 1981, Mead's Dairy sold out and merged with Prairie Farms Dairy.
It was the last independent dairy in the state.
John L. Mead was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church,
the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and BPOE (Elks) Lodge No. 312.
Other child:
Marilyn Ann, b. May 19, 1928, Marshalltown.
John Lawrence Mead, a resident of 206 S. 4th St., and a prominent businessman in Marshalltown for 45 years and President of Mead's All-Star Dairy, passed away at 2:15 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 1969, at at Evangelical Hospital on the southeast corner of Main St. and 3rd Avenue, following surgery for a ruptured abdominal aorta aneurysm.
He is survived by his wife,
3 sons: John Roger, Charles Mathew, and James Patrick Mead, all of Marshalltown; and
2 daughters: Catherine Elizabeth (John) Lepine, Detroit, Michigan; Marilyn Ann (John) Blocker, Dubuque, Iowa; 26 grandchildren, one nephew, and two nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, and an infant daughter.
Arrangements were by Avey Funeral Home, 102 N. 2nd St., Marshalltown. The grandchildren recited the Rosary at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 10, at Avey's, with a Public Rosary there at 8 p.m.
Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday noon, August 11, 1969, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Marshalltown. One of the 3 concelebrants was Fr. John Ginsterblum, S.J. (Memorial #146447771), the nephew of his wife. The other concelebrants were Fr. William P. Mullen, Pastor of St. Mary's; and Fr. Aloysius J. Vorwald, Assistant Pastor.
Pallbearers: Howard McAlister, Arnold J. (Pete) Menzel, E.D. "Jack" Hayes, Donald E. Taylor, Harold Lathrop, and Kenneth R. Lynk.
Honorary bearers: William Nolan, F. M. Jones, Vern Brammer, Wayne Norton, Dr. John E. Sinning, and Edward J. Mead, Jr.
Attending the funeral in groups were employees of Mead's All-Star Dairy, the Knights of Columbus, BPOE Lodge No. 312, Frank Lewis Glick Post No. 46 of the American Legion Auxiliary, and St. Ann's Study Club. Relatives and friends attended from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and numerous cities throughout Iowa. Memorials were requested to Mercy and Evangelical Hospitals.
Information from family records compiled by John and Elizabeth Mead's niece, Alice M. Mead Wick (Memorial #91609588), assisted by Rick Mead (Member #48558862); from John's obituary, and from personal knowledge. Submitted by granddaughter Angela, Member #48520699.
John Lawrence Mead was born on December 7, 1899, in Fairmount, Iowa, near Monroe; the son and youngest of four children of D. John and Katherine "Katy" Clary Holland Mead.
When John was 4 years old, the family moved to the state capital, Des Moines. In 1915, his father purchased a 240-acre farm 3 milesnorthwest of Marshalltown, Iowa. The family moved there in 1916.
John graduated as salutatorian from St. Mary's High School, Marshalltown, in the Class of 1917. He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, for one year. He was a tackle on the freshman football team and a member of R.O.T.C. During World War I, R.O.T.C. students were allowed to join the American Legion.
John married Elizabeth Josephine DeMuth on May 10, 1921, in McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa.
John farmed for 3 years with his brother, Edward Joseph Mead, on the family farm 3 miles northwest of Marshalltown. He started a milk route, with raw milk, in 1924, then moved the dairy from the farm to the basement of their home at 311 S. 6th St., Marshalltown, in 1925.
In 1931, he merged with Clint Hooven to form Modern Dairy. In 1932, the Mead family moved to 209 S. 4th St. in Marshalltown (where they remained), and the dairy was moved to 607 N. 3rd Ave.
In 1940, John bought out his partner's share and renamed it "Mead's Dairy." Deliveries were made to retail (home) and wholesale (grocery store and restaurant) markets. In 1958, Mead's Dairy became Mead's Dairy Incorporated.
The retail deliveries would start at 3 a.m. and be completed by 8 a.m. Then the wholesale deliveries would begin. There were about 40 wholesale stops to make every day. There were 47 small neighborhood grocery stores and 37 restaurants at that time. Out of the 37 restaurants, Meads delivered to 27 of them. By 1941, Mead's Dairy was the 3rd largest dairy in town out of 10. In the early 1940s, deliveries were made twice a day. At the beginning of World War II, wholesale deliveries were cut back to once a day, and retail to every other day, due to gas rationing.
At the 3rd Ave. site, in addition to the dairy, John owned a soft-service ice cream shop which he operated from 1951-1965. After closing the shop, he continued to serve as President of Mead's Dairy.
Mead's Dairy became Mead's All-Star Dairy, one of the premiere dairies in the state of Iowa. There were 17 routes, delivering milk to 15 counties, to over 14,000 families.
In the early 1970s, Mead's Dairy employed 45 people in the dairy and in the office. John continued as President of the dairy until his death.
His 3 sons were officers of the Mead's Dairy. John and Jim were Vice Presidents; Chuck was Secretary/Treasurer.
In 1981, Mead's Dairy sold out and merged with Prairie Farms Dairy.
It was the last independent dairy in the state.
John L. Mead was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church,
the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and BPOE (Elks) Lodge No. 312.
Other child:
Marilyn Ann, b. May 19, 1928, Marshalltown.
John Lawrence Mead, a resident of 206 S. 4th St., and a prominent businessman in Marshalltown for 45 years and President of Mead's All-Star Dairy, passed away at 2:15 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 1969, at at Evangelical Hospital on the southeast corner of Main St. and 3rd Avenue, following surgery for a ruptured abdominal aorta aneurysm.
He is survived by his wife,
3 sons: John Roger, Charles Mathew, and James Patrick Mead, all of Marshalltown; and
2 daughters: Catherine Elizabeth (John) Lepine, Detroit, Michigan; Marilyn Ann (John) Blocker, Dubuque, Iowa; 26 grandchildren, one nephew, and two nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, and an infant daughter.
Arrangements were by Avey Funeral Home, 102 N. 2nd St., Marshalltown. The grandchildren recited the Rosary at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 10, at Avey's, with a Public Rosary there at 8 p.m.
Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday noon, August 11, 1969, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Marshalltown. One of the 3 concelebrants was Fr. John Ginsterblum, S.J. (Memorial #146447771), the nephew of his wife. The other concelebrants were Fr. William P. Mullen, Pastor of St. Mary's; and Fr. Aloysius J. Vorwald, Assistant Pastor.
Pallbearers: Howard McAlister, Arnold J. (Pete) Menzel, E.D. "Jack" Hayes, Donald E. Taylor, Harold Lathrop, and Kenneth R. Lynk.
Honorary bearers: William Nolan, F. M. Jones, Vern Brammer, Wayne Norton, Dr. John E. Sinning, and Edward J. Mead, Jr.
Attending the funeral in groups were employees of Mead's All-Star Dairy, the Knights of Columbus, BPOE Lodge No. 312, Frank Lewis Glick Post No. 46 of the American Legion Auxiliary, and St. Ann's Study Club. Relatives and friends attended from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and numerous cities throughout Iowa. Memorials were requested to Mercy and Evangelical Hospitals.
Information from family records compiled by John and Elizabeth Mead's niece, Alice M. Mead Wick (Memorial #91609588), assisted by Rick Mead (Member #48558862); from John's obituary, and from personal knowledge. Submitted by granddaughter Angela, Member #48520699.
The surname "Mead" goes back to the Old English, and means "dweller in or by the mead" (meadow or pasture land).
John Lawrence Mead was born on December 7, 1899, in Fairmount, Iowa, near Monroe; the son and youngest of four children of D. John and Katherine "Katy" Clary Holland Mead.
When John was 4 years old, the family moved to the state capital, Des Moines. In 1915, his father purchased a 240-acre farm 3 milesnorthwest of Marshalltown, Iowa. The family moved there in 1916.
John graduated as salutatorian from St. Mary's High School, Marshalltown, in the Class of 1917. He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, for one year. He was a tackle on the freshman football team and a member of R.O.T.C. During World War I, R.O.T.C. students were allowed to join the American Legion.
John married Elizabeth Josephine DeMuth on May 10, 1921, in McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa.
John farmed for 3 years with his brother, Edward Joseph Mead, on the family farm 3 miles northwest of Marshalltown. He started a milk route, with raw milk, in 1924, then moved the dairy from the farm to the basement of their home at 311 S. 6th St., Marshalltown, in 1925.
In 1931, he merged with Clint Hooven to form Modern Dairy. In 1932, the Mead family moved to 209 S. 4th St. in Marshalltown (where they remained), and the dairy was moved to 607 N. 3rd Ave.
In 1940, John bought out his partner's share and renamed it "Mead's Dairy." Deliveries were made to retail (home) and wholesale (grocery store and restaurant) markets. In 1958, Mead's Dairy became Mead's Dairy Incorporated.
The retail deliveries would start at 3 a.m. and be completed by 8 a.m. Then the wholesale deliveries would begin. There were about 40 wholesale stops to make every day. There were 47 small neighborhood grocery stores and 37 restaurants at that time. Out of the 37 restaurants, Meads delivered to 27 of them. By 1941, Mead's Dairy was the 3rd largest dairy in town out of 10. In the early 1940s, deliveries were made twice a day. At the beginning of World War II, wholesale deliveries were cut back to once a day, and retail to every other day, due to gas rationing.
At the 3rd Ave. site, in addition to the dairy, John owned a soft-service ice cream shop which he operated from 1951-1965. After closing the shop, he continued to serve as President of Mead's Dairy.
Mead's Dairy became Mead's All-Star Dairy, one of the premiere dairies in the state of Iowa. There were 17 routes, delivering milk to 15 counties, to over 14,000 families.
In the early 1970s, Mead's Dairy employed 45 people in the dairy and in the office. John continued as President of the dairy until his death.
His 3 sons were officers of the Mead's Dairy. John and Jim were Vice Presidents; Chuck was Secretary/Treasurer.
In 1981, Mead's Dairy sold out and merged with Prairie Farms Dairy.
It was the last independent dairy in the state.
John L. Mead was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church,
the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and BPOE (Elks) Lodge No. 312.
Other child:
Marilyn Ann, b. May 19, 1928, Marshalltown.
John Lawrence Mead, a resident of 206 S. 4th St., and a prominent businessman in Marshalltown for 45 years and President of Mead's All-Star Dairy, passed away at 2:15 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 1969, at at Evangelical Hospital on the southeast corner of Main St. and 3rd Avenue, following surgery for a ruptured abdominal aorta aneurysm.
He is survived by his wife,
3 sons: John Roger, Charles Mathew, and James Patrick Mead, all of Marshalltown; and
2 daughters: Catherine Elizabeth (John) Lepine, Detroit, Michigan; Marilyn Ann (John) Blocker, Dubuque, Iowa; 26 grandchildren, one nephew, and two nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, and an infant daughter.
Arrangements were by Avey Funeral Home, 102 N. 2nd St., Marshalltown. The grandchildren recited the Rosary at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 10, at Avey's, with a Public Rosary there at 8 p.m.
Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday noon, August 11, 1969, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Marshalltown. One of the 3 concelebrants was Fr. John Ginsterblum, S.J. (Memorial #146447771), the nephew of his wife. The other concelebrants were Fr. William P. Mullen, Pastor of St. Mary's; and Fr. Aloysius J. Vorwald, Assistant Pastor.
Pallbearers: Howard McAlister, Arnold J. (Pete) Menzel, E.D. "Jack" Hayes, Donald E. Taylor, Harold Lathrop, and Kenneth R. Lynk.
Honorary bearers: William Nolan, F. M. Jones, Vern Brammer, Wayne Norton, Dr. John E. Sinning, and Edward J. Mead, Jr.
Attending the funeral in groups were employees of Mead's All-Star Dairy, the Knights of Columbus, BPOE Lodge No. 312, Frank Lewis Glick Post No. 46 of the American Legion Auxiliary, and St. Ann's Study Club. Relatives and friends attended from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and numerous cities throughout Iowa. Memorials were requested to Mercy and Evangelical Hospitals.
Information from family records compiled by John and Elizabeth Mead's niece, Alice M. Mead Wick (Memorial #91609588), assisted by Rick Mead (Member #48558862); from John's obituary, and from personal knowledge. Submitted by granddaughter Angela, Member #48520699.
John Lawrence Mead was born on December 7, 1899, in Fairmount, Iowa, near Monroe; the son and youngest of four children of D. John and Katherine "Katy" Clary Holland Mead.
When John was 4 years old, the family moved to the state capital, Des Moines. In 1915, his father purchased a 240-acre farm 3 milesnorthwest of Marshalltown, Iowa. The family moved there in 1916.
John graduated as salutatorian from St. Mary's High School, Marshalltown, in the Class of 1917. He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, for one year. He was a tackle on the freshman football team and a member of R.O.T.C. During World War I, R.O.T.C. students were allowed to join the American Legion.
John married Elizabeth Josephine DeMuth on May 10, 1921, in McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa.
John farmed for 3 years with his brother, Edward Joseph Mead, on the family farm 3 miles northwest of Marshalltown. He started a milk route, with raw milk, in 1924, then moved the dairy from the farm to the basement of their home at 311 S. 6th St., Marshalltown, in 1925.
In 1931, he merged with Clint Hooven to form Modern Dairy. In 1932, the Mead family moved to 209 S. 4th St. in Marshalltown (where they remained), and the dairy was moved to 607 N. 3rd Ave.
In 1940, John bought out his partner's share and renamed it "Mead's Dairy." Deliveries were made to retail (home) and wholesale (grocery store and restaurant) markets. In 1958, Mead's Dairy became Mead's Dairy Incorporated.
The retail deliveries would start at 3 a.m. and be completed by 8 a.m. Then the wholesale deliveries would begin. There were about 40 wholesale stops to make every day. There were 47 small neighborhood grocery stores and 37 restaurants at that time. Out of the 37 restaurants, Meads delivered to 27 of them. By 1941, Mead's Dairy was the 3rd largest dairy in town out of 10. In the early 1940s, deliveries were made twice a day. At the beginning of World War II, wholesale deliveries were cut back to once a day, and retail to every other day, due to gas rationing.
At the 3rd Ave. site, in addition to the dairy, John owned a soft-service ice cream shop which he operated from 1951-1965. After closing the shop, he continued to serve as President of Mead's Dairy.
Mead's Dairy became Mead's All-Star Dairy, one of the premiere dairies in the state of Iowa. There were 17 routes, delivering milk to 15 counties, to over 14,000 families.
In the early 1970s, Mead's Dairy employed 45 people in the dairy and in the office. John continued as President of the dairy until his death.
His 3 sons were officers of the Mead's Dairy. John and Jim were Vice Presidents; Chuck was Secretary/Treasurer.
In 1981, Mead's Dairy sold out and merged with Prairie Farms Dairy.
It was the last independent dairy in the state.
John L. Mead was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church,
the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and BPOE (Elks) Lodge No. 312.
Other child:
Marilyn Ann, b. May 19, 1928, Marshalltown.
John Lawrence Mead, a resident of 206 S. 4th St., and a prominent businessman in Marshalltown for 45 years and President of Mead's All-Star Dairy, passed away at 2:15 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 1969, at at Evangelical Hospital on the southeast corner of Main St. and 3rd Avenue, following surgery for a ruptured abdominal aorta aneurysm.
He is survived by his wife,
3 sons: John Roger, Charles Mathew, and James Patrick Mead, all of Marshalltown; and
2 daughters: Catherine Elizabeth (John) Lepine, Detroit, Michigan; Marilyn Ann (John) Blocker, Dubuque, Iowa; 26 grandchildren, one nephew, and two nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, and an infant daughter.
Arrangements were by Avey Funeral Home, 102 N. 2nd St., Marshalltown. The grandchildren recited the Rosary at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, August 10, at Avey's, with a Public Rosary there at 8 p.m.
Funeral Mass was celebrated on Monday noon, August 11, 1969, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Marshalltown. One of the 3 concelebrants was Fr. John Ginsterblum, S.J. (Memorial #146447771), the nephew of his wife. The other concelebrants were Fr. William P. Mullen, Pastor of St. Mary's; and Fr. Aloysius J. Vorwald, Assistant Pastor.
Pallbearers: Howard McAlister, Arnold J. (Pete) Menzel, E.D. "Jack" Hayes, Donald E. Taylor, Harold Lathrop, and Kenneth R. Lynk.
Honorary bearers: William Nolan, F. M. Jones, Vern Brammer, Wayne Norton, Dr. John E. Sinning, and Edward J. Mead, Jr.
Attending the funeral in groups were employees of Mead's All-Star Dairy, the Knights of Columbus, BPOE Lodge No. 312, Frank Lewis Glick Post No. 46 of the American Legion Auxiliary, and St. Ann's Study Club. Relatives and friends attended from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and numerous cities throughout Iowa. Memorials were requested to Mercy and Evangelical Hospitals.
Information from family records compiled by John and Elizabeth Mead's niece, Alice M. Mead Wick (Memorial #91609588), assisted by Rick Mead (Member #48558862); from John's obituary, and from personal knowledge. Submitted by granddaughter Angela, Member #48520699.
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