John Joseph Von Bank was born April 3, 1923 to Joseph and Mary (Origer) Von Bank in Swea City, Iowa. He attended country school in rural Swea City. John then farmed with his Dad in the Swea City, Iowa area. On June 24, 1946, he was united in marriage to Harriet Looft at Jackson, Minnesota. After their marriage they farmed in Swea City area until moving to a farm in the Dunnell area. John then moved to Sherburn. He was a certified welder and was employed at Terfehr Manufacturing, Pollards, Year Around Cab in rural Sherburn, Schweiss Incorporated and then Eagle-Air in Welcome until his retirement. John was a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Sherburn where he served on the Church Board. He greatly enjoyed his grandchildren and going to their wrestling matches. Going camping, fishing, playing cards and cribbage with his family and friends was very special to him. John enjoyed playing his guitar and doing cross-word puzzles. When he had time he did a lot of whitling with his knife.
John died on Saturday afternoon, January 7, 2006 at the Lakeview Methodist Health Care Center in Fairmont, Minnesota at the age of eighty-two years.
Those Who Shared in His Life
His wife, Harriet of Sherburn, Minnesota; his children, Walton Von Bank and his wife, Janet, of Melbourne, Florida, Janet Woodyard of Algona, Iowa, John Von Bank Jr. and his wife, Kathleen, of Fairmont, Minnesota, Judy Steffen and her husband, Rick, of Northrop, Minnesota, JoAnn Sathoff of Dunnell, Minnesota, June Nelson and her husband, Douglas, of Fairmont, Minnesota; fourteen grandchildren, Ann, Sherry, Shane, Shannon, Sheila, Christine, Jason, Jarrid, Stefany, Bobbi Jo, Jessica, Jami, Jeremy and Jeffery; thirty-five great grandchildren; sister-in-law, LaVon Kastner and her husband, Carl, of Winnebago, Minnesota and Beverly Looft of Spirit Lake, Iowa; brother-in-law, Donald Looft and his wife, Mickey, of Armstrong, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; special friends, Thelma Schenck of Sherburn and Marv Holland of Fairmont and other relatives and friends.
John was preceded in death by his parents, one grandson; one great grandson; four brothers and one sister;three brothers-in-law; five sisters-in-law and other relatives