John Scheffler

John W. Scheffler, 57, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Monday evening, April 2, 2007, at the Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.

John William Scheffler, Jr. was born June 14, 1949, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the son of John William, Sr. and Clara Elizabeth (Schuttloffel) Scheffler.

He spent his early childhood years in Hancock, Iowa, and grew up and graduated from Avoca High School in 1967. John then attended the Brown Institute of Broadcasting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He also received various military and electronics training.

John had lived in Red Oak, Urbandale, and Wiota, Iowa, and has been a resident of Atlantic since 1996.

In September of 1971, John married Carol Page in Lawton, Oklahoma. He married Gina Marie Wilson on November 30, 1996, in Atlantic, Iowa.

John was well known for his radio broadcasting abilities, and had worked at KOAK in Red Oak, Iowa, and several Omaha radio stations. He also served as the editor of the Urbandale Newspaper and worked in the insurance business. Most recently, John worked for KJAN in Atlantic as the music director and hosted the Nightbeat show and the Big Band show on Saturday evenings.

He was recently confirmed at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, Iowa, and was a former member of Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic. John was also a former member of the Atlantic Eagles Lodge.

The military was a big part of his life. He served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1971. John had been in the Army Reserves for over 20 years and was the unit administrator at Audubon, Iowa, and was with the Public Affairs Detachment at Camp Dodge and Hospital Unit #4224 in Fort Des Moines, Iowa.

John loved to be with his family and friends. He was a lifelong musician, composer and writer. He loved all animals and taking care of them. Everyone enjoyed listening to his radio programs and he loved doing them.

John is survived by his wife, Gina Marie Scheffler of Atlantic, Iowa; his son, Scott Barker of Atlantic, Iowa; his daughter, Jennifer Scheffler of Wiota, Iowa; and his parents, John Sr. and Clara Scheffler of Avoca, Iowa. He is also survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Charlie Ronnfeldt of Avoca, Iowa; two nieces, Kara Ronnfeldt of Omaha, Nebraska, and Erin Ronnfeldt and her significant other, Michael Yates of Avoca, Iowa; one great-niece, Lauren Yates of Avoca, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Sheila Larsen and her husband, Jeff of State Center, Iowa; his father-in-law, Gerald E. Wilson of Tombstone, Arizona; as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his aunt Katie Waddell of Avoca, Iowa; his maternal and paternal grandparents; as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins.

The Funeral Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 5, 2007, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, with Father Dan Siepker officiating.

Visitation will be held at Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church beginning at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, with a Scriptural Prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Committal services and interment will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Avoca, Iowa, with Military Graveside Services conducted by the honor guard from the 4224th Unit of the U.S. Army Hospital.

Following the graveside services, a time for fellowship and refreshments will be held the Saints Peter and Paul Parish Center in Atlantic.

The family is requesting memorials in John's memory for a memorial fund to be established in the future.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic is assisting the Scheffler family.