John Sampson

John Walter Sampson, the son of LeRoy and Edna Sampson was born April 22, 1940, in Westside Iowa. He was the third son out of 11 children. He attended country school until the family moved to Walnut, Iowa. He was in the 7th grade and continued to attend school until he graduated in 1958. During school and after graduating he worked as a farm hand until he began helping his brother Dave on a milk route. From then on, he had many jobs which included driving a cream and egg truck for Farmers Coop Creamery in Avoca Iowa, Pioneer Lumberyard in Ankeny Iowa, Nielson Elevator in Walnut, Iowa, Avoca Livestock Auction Company in Avoca, Iowa, and his last job until retirement was working for Pottawattamie County Secondary Roads.

On October 6, 1962, John was united in marriage to Kay Jean Smyser at Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic, Iowa. This marriage was blessed with 3 children, Johnny, Brenda, and Cindy.

John loved spending time with his family and friends. He enjoyed going on trips with his family to Missouri, Louisiana and South Dakota. John loved it when he got to go with his brothers on the bus trips to Chicago to see the Cubs games. He loved his Cubbies! However, he would look forward to getting to go to a Kansas City Chiefs game every now and then. He enjoyed deer hunting every year with his brothers and nephews. One of John’s trips he would often talk about was when he got to go to Lake of the Woods in Minnesota to go ice fishing and he caught the biggest fish out of his group. He always enjoyed a good Euchre game, going fishing, doing his Wheel of Fortune Find a Word puzzle books, and his daily walks. There was never a place where he went that he didn’t run into someone he knew. He really did love talking, laughing and joking with the many family and friends he had.

John passed away on November 4, 2020, at Jennie Edmundson Hospital at the age of 80 years, 6 months and 13 days. He is preceded in death by his parents, LeRoy and Edna Sampson; father and mother-in-law, John and Eloise Smyser. Brothers, Robert, James (Aug), and Walter. One sister, Mary. Brothers-in-law, Thomas Willie, Ed Nash, Lewis Porter, Bill Long, Burt Rogers and Glen Figgins; and sisters-in-law, Darlene Sampson and Joyce Nash. Nephew, Ronnie Willie.

Left to cherish his wonderful memories are his wife, Kay; his son, Johnny of Dodge City, Kansas; daughters, Brenda (Bruce) Waddell of Harlan, Iowa; and Cindy (Jerry) Glenn of Walnut, Iowa. His siblings: Dave (Carol) Sampson of Hancock, Iowa; Arnie (Carol) Sampson of Pikeville, North Carolina; Wayne Sampson of Underwood, Iowa; Susan Libby of Walnut, Iowa; Martha (Randy) Hargens of Walnut, Iowa; and Joseph/Pete (Margaret) Sampson of Elliot, Iowa. Sisters-in-law: Barb Sampson of Avoca, Iowa; Colleen Figgins of Corning, Iowa; Mary Ann Long of Ava, Missouri; Patty Rogers of Livonia, Louisiana; Cheri (Lyle) Thornton of Sparta, Missouri; and Terry (Steve) Daugherty of Urbandale, Iowa. His 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. And we can’t forget Buddy. The one thing he never wanted but dearly loved.

Visitation with family will be from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2020, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Walnut, Iowa.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, November 8, 2020, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Walnut, Iowa.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of arrangements.