John Larkin

John B. Larkin, 86, of Dorchester died Wednesday, October 8, 2014 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, October 11 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Jim Dubert and Deacon Mike Ward officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon.
John Bertram Larkin was born July 15, 1928 in Jefferson Township in rural Waukon, the son of John C. and Miranda Helen (Link) Larkin. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Pius Cherry Mound in rural Harpers Ferry. John attended elementary school at Jefferson #7 and graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in Waukon in 1946.
John and Rose met while employed at the Dubuque Packing Plant. September 18, 1950, he married Rose Mary Gullo at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubuque. In 1952, they moved to Ion where they farmed for five years. They moved to Hanover Township where they continued dairy farming until 1982. They retired from farming, built their new home and split their time between Iowa and Wilcox, AZ.
John was an active member of St. Mary’s Hanover Parish, where he served on the parish council. In 1963, John received the Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer Award. He also served as a board member for the Calhoun Creamery. John enjoyed many vacations, dancing, playing cards, camping, bowling, golfing, gardening and spending time with his family. He enjoyed people and loved visiting with friends and family or anyone who would listen to his stories. John was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. John had a great deal of pride in his family.
Survivors include his wife, Rose, of Dorchester; his eight children, William of Jacksonville, FL, Lawrence (Char) of Bend, OR, Joseph (Amy) of Oskaloosa, Robert (Peggy) of Dorchester, Kathleen (Karl) Schoenknecht of Strasburg, PA, Ann (Richard) Tebbs of Fort Madison, Marie (Kevin) Bye of Greenfield, WI and Rose Ann (Carl) Evans of Johnston; 20 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Clem and Herb (Patsy) of Waukon and Ray (Janice) of El Paso, TX; three sisters, Eleanor Ryan of Waukon, Evelyn Reuter of Monticello and Alice Murphy of Richfield, MN; a daughter-in-law, Sue Sivesind of Waukon; and a sister-in-law, Gayle Larkin of Waukon.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Edward; a grandson, Billy Larkin; two sisters, Marian Ryan and Frances Gallagher; one brother, Charles; four brothers-in-law; and one sister-in-law.
Casketbearers were Kevin Bye, Karl Schoenknecht, Carl Evans, Richard, Allen and Blake Tebbs, Sean Larkin and Jacob Bye.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.