John Wesley Doty

John Doty, 87, of Oskaloosa, passed away Thursday, March 13, 2025, at Northern Mahaska Specialty Care in Oskaloosa. John Wesley Doty, son of Clyde and Minnie (Garrett) Doty Sr., was born on April 20, 1937, in Beacon, Iowa. Soon after, the family moved to What Cheer, Iowa, and John attended local schools. John met Susan Peck, and the two were married on September 14, 1966, in Houston, TX. John later enlisted in the United States Army and was later stationed in An Khe and Quin Yon, Vietnam. While in the Army, John studied and earned his G.E.D. After his service in Vietnam, John was stationed in Heidelberg, Germany. One day, Susan received a call from John; he told her to sell everything and buy a ticket to Heidelberg, Germany. She did, and the couple lived on base in Germany for five years, where they were blessed with the birth of their only child, David John. John was honorably discharged, and the family returned to the United States. They lived in Georgia briefly before settling back home in Iowa. John worked a few jobs at various companies before starting his career at Pella Corporation, where he worked until his retirement in 1999. John enjoyed hunting, fishing, and later wood carving in his free time. He enjoyed being a taste-tester for Susan’s cooking and had a talent for carving little wooden Santas. He and Susan enjoyed going for joy rides and even did some transportation work for Ulrich Motors in Pella. His true love was spending time with his family. John’s family includes his wife, Susan Doty of Oskaloosa; his son, David (Michelle) Doty of Knoxville; granddaughter, Cissa (Laura) Dahm-Howard; grandson, Joshua Doty; two step-grandsons, Chris (Julia) Van Leeuwen and Shawn (Kaela) Van Leeuwen and a step-great-grandson, Logan, his brothers Clyde (Nancy) Doty Jr. and Donald (Bonnie) Doty and many nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Viola Snook, Betty Snook, and Carol Mayfield, and two brothers, Robert “Bob” Doty and Kenneth Doty. Memorial services for John will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel, with Pastor Leo Freel of the Cross Roads Gospel Church in Knoxville officiating. Burial will be held privately in Forest Cemetery. The family will greet visitors from 1-2 p.m. before the service on Saturday. Memorial contributions can be made to Care Initiatives Hospice.

John Wesley Doty

April 20, 1937 - March 13, 2025