John McDaniel Sr.

John William McDaniel Sr., 89, of Kahoka, passed away at 9:30 am on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at his home.

He was born on May 7, 1933, in Azen, the son of the late James Marshall & Opal Emma (Orton) McDaniel. John married Mary Hayden on September 22, 1954, in Kahoka and she survives.

John worked at Foote Mineral in Keokuk, Iowa for many years until his retirement in 1982. Afterwards, John farmed and dealt in used farming equipment. He was a member of the Kahoka Christian Church where he had served as a deacon and elder in past years. John loved visiting and talking with people, he never met a stranger. He had a youthfulness about him, most people could not imagine that he was 89 years old when they met him. John & Mary enjoyed having people stop by the house to visit and to partake in Mary’s pies. He enjoyed trips to Wal-Mart, going over to Holly’s house to feed her dog Duke, bulldozers and heavy machinery and going out to the fields to keep an eye on his farms. John used to possess a pilot’s license and he loved to go to the big airports to watch the planes land. One of the things that John enjoyed most was making an old tractor run that had been sitting for years, a task that he always accomplished. Most of all, John loved his family; especially his grandchildren.

In addition to his wife of 68 years, Mary, he is survived by two sons; John (Kim) McDaniel Jr. and Timothy Joe (Mary Beth) McDaniel both of Kahoka, a daughter; Debbie Gay (Bill) Conger of Kahoka, eight grandchildren; Matthew (Emily) McDaniel, Mandy (Andrew) Gessling, Michelle (Dominic) Gray, Holly (Mike) Koenig, Jason (Tracy) McDaniel, Ryan McDaniel, Shane McDaniel and Marcus (Abby) McDaniel, fifteen great grandchildren; Mason, Malachi, Ariabella, Gabriel, Bryna, Jameson, Gideon, Kindrick, Braelynn, Garrison, Jolene, Gavin, Hannah, Corbin, Eleanor and a forthcoming great granddaughter; Baby Girl Gessling, a brother; Richard “Red” McDaniel of Luray and by several nieces, nephews and friends. Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by a son; Randy Ray McDaniel, two brothers; Junior McDaniel and Ellis McDaniel and by three sisters; Goldie Carroll, Dorothy Fetterolf and Betty Phillips.

Funeral services honoring John’s life will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at the Wilson & Triplett Funeral Home in Kahoka. Pastor Rick Addison will officiate. Interment will follow at the Kahoka City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until the time of services on Saturday. Memorial contributions in memory of John are suggested St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or to the Kahoka Christian Church. You are invited to share your memories of John and leave a condolence at www.wilsontriplett.com