John Franklin Garner

John Garner, 82, of Oskaloosa passed away Friday, December 12, 2014, in Naples, Florida. John Franklin Garner, son of Steve and Elizabeth Black Garner, was born December 4, 1932 in Mendon Missouri. John’s family moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa when he was three years old. He graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1951. As a teenager, John trained and showed champion American Saddle Bred colts at the Iowa State Fair. After graduation John enlisted in the United States Air Force and served from June 18, 1951 until he was honorably discharged June 18, 1955. While in the Air Force he worked as a weather observer and later, after further training, as a weather forecaster. After his discharge he attended the University of Iowa for two years. Upon entering the university he was invited to attend MENSA. He returned to Oskaloosa and sold life insurance for 15 years representing several companies. In 1973 he became a Real Estate Broker and he subsequently opened Star Realty, a company he owned and operated until his retirement in 2004. He was President of the Oskaloosa Board of Realtors for several years; he served as chairman of the Multiple Listing Service and taught the mandatory real estate ethics classes for the Oskaloosa Board for eight years. In the mid-eighties he interrupted his real estate career to serve as the primary purchasing agent for Penn Central Mall. During this three year period, he assisted in the purchase of approximately 130 properties as a public service. Later in his real estate career he represented Wal-Mart and K-Mart in numerous property acquisitions. After retirement he served as Chairman of Oskaloosa Trees Forever. During this time he contacted all Oskaloosa property owners who were eligible to plant trees in the street parking area. This resulted in the planting of over 1500 landscape size street trees in Oskaloosa. He was a member of The First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa, the Oskaloosa Elks Lodge #340, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a 60 year member of the American Legion. John enjoyed golfing, fishing and was an avid reader. John is survived by his Significant Other Alice Iverson of Oskaloosa and her children: Eric Iverson of Minneapolis, MN, Sarah (Robert) Kent of Auburn, IA, Ian (Kelly) Iverson of Vienna, VA, and Aaron (Julie) Iverson of St. Louis, MO and Evan (Jen) Iverson of Seattle, WA; and several grandchildren; two nieces: Lorraine (Rick) Sinnott of Oskaloosa and Sandy Garner of Longview, TX; three nephews: Mark (Sally) Garner of Ottumwa, Steve (Leslie) Rice of Oskaloosa and Larry (Pam) Rice of Alabama; a great nephew, Mike Garner of Chicago; three cousins: Earl Francis (Louise) Black and Leo (Belle) Black, both of Columbia, MO and Katherine Talbot of Phoenix, AZ. He is preceded in death by two brothers: Bob and William (Bud) Garner and a sister, Edith Rice. PDF Printable Version

John Franklin Garner

December 12, 2014 - December 12, 2014