John "Jack" Weighton

John “Jack” Weighton, the son of George “Scotchie” and Addie (Wright) Weighton, was born May 14, 1924, at his parents’ home in Leroy Township, northeast of Audubon, Iowa and died December 13, 2018, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 6 months, and 29 days.
Jack was baptized and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa. He attended one room rural school houses through elementary school around the Audubon and Gray areas. Along with school, Jack spent his boyhood helping his Dad and working as a hired hand for other area farmers. Jack would stay home from school on days his mother did the laundry to keep the Maytag engine on the washing machine running. He attended High School in Audubon. Jack was on the football team and played on the field which was located at the Audubon County Fairgrounds at that time. Jack graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1942 then helped his father farm the old Gray Ranch home place 1 mile east of Gray for John Liken. In 1943, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy. During his tour of duty he served as a gunner’s mate aboard the attack transport the USS LaPorte APA-151 in the Pacific Theater. They earned battle stars for landings at Lingayen Gulf on the Philippine island of Luzon and the invasion of Okinawa. They were docked in San Francisco on VJ Day then served in occupation duty delivering troops to Japan and China and returning to Seattle laden with returning US troops as part of Operation Magic Carpet. From Seattle they sailed to Norfolk, Virginia via the Panama Canal for decommissioning in March of 1946. Jack went to Minneapolis for mustering out and was honorably discharged on April 1, 1946. On the ride home his train derailed near Manning, Iowa and the car Jack was in ended up on its side. Jack and the uninjured passengers walked the two miles to Manning. He called his parents who lived near Gray and they picked him up. Jack helped operate the family farm with his father and also did odd jobs around the Audubon and Gray areas. He delivered milk in Audubon and drove a school bus for the Audubon Community Schools.
On August 19, 1952, he was united in marriage to Mardell Joy Nelson at the Lutheran Church Chapel in Audubon. They were blessed with four children Jacqueline, John, Jan, and James. They spent the next 39 years growing row crops and raising livestock in the Gray area finally purchasing the John Liken farm in 1963.Jack raised cattle until 1973 when he built a farrow-to-finish operation and raised hogs until he retired from farming in 1988. Mardell died December 16, 1991.
In February of 1993 Jack Married Sharlette (Tessman) Olson at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. They enjoyed traveling around the country attending USS LaPorte reunions and visiting Jack’s sister Mary in Texas. Jack and his son James enjoyed restoring antique engines and John Deere tractors. They attended many shows and parades including the Greenridge Steam and Gas Engine show near Irwin, Iowa for over 25 years and where their engine provided power for the blacksmith shop.
Jack was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon where he had served as an Elder and a Deacon. He was a member of Dale Christensen Post #4119, V.F.W. Audubon for over 70 years. Jack loved to golf and traveled around to different golf courses with his retired friends until he was 89 but continued to be involved watching the Tournaments on the TV. As Jack grew older he settled for simpler pleasures such as mowing his lawn until he turned 93, eating biscuits and gravy with his friends at the Chatterbox Café, and spending time with his family. Jack will be remembered for his quick wit, common sense advice, and his practical approach to life.
Preceding him in death was his wife Mardell Weighton; his parents; his sisters Alice and husband Alvin Hansen and Mary and husband Al Nelson; his fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law Martin T. and Nora (McGee) Nelson and Russell and Helen (Schmidt) Tessman; his sisters-in-law Robina and husband Elvin Elmquist, Darlene and husband Wayne Whitmore, Bonnie and husband Alvin Skow, and Ila Mae and husband Ed Vaughn.
Survivors include his wife Sharlette Weighton of Audubon, Iowa; his children Jacqueline and husband Dan Stetzel, John K. and wife Peggy Weighton, Jan and husband John Roberts all of Audubon, Iowa, and James and wife Ruthanne Weighton of Central City, Iowa; his step sons Kim and wife Rhonda Olson of Audubon, Iowa and Craig Olson of Des Moines, Iowa; 8 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren, 1 step-grandchild; 1 great-great grandson; nieces; nephews, other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends Monday evening, December 17, 2018, at 5:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Kelley Pedersen on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. Interment will be in the Arlington Heights Cemetery in Audubon. The honorary casket bearers will be Michelle Schlichte, Jennifer Gust, Joanna Roberts, Nora Weighton, Addie Weighton, and Amy Barnhart. The casket bearers will be Clint Stetzel, Aaron Roberts, Tristan Schlichte, Nicholas Schlichte, Carter Schlichte, and Mark McLaughlin.