John T. White

John Truman White was born on a farm near Argyle, Iowa, December 6, 1928, to Guy Truman and Elva (Smith) White. He spent the first several months of his life with Aunt Louie and Uncle Doss Rench while his mother recovered from breast cancer surgery. His father had a herd of Holstein dairy cows, so as a boy, he learned to milk and do farm work. He also loved to roam the woods and hunt in the “700 Acres” that joined the family farm. He was baptized at the Embury Methodist Church near Argyle and joined the church at an early age. He graduated from the Argyle High School as class salutatorian, then joined the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Japan at the close of WWII. He attended Iowa Wesleyan College and received his B.A. from Parsons College. He earned an M.A. from the University of Iowa. On September 3, 1950 he married Carol Jean Sauer at the Farson, Iowa Baptist Church. He worked summers, and for a short time at John Deere, Ottumwa where he played baseball, as he had in high school and college. His 35 year teaching career began at Argyle where he as a teacher and coach. The Burlington Hawkeye Gazette named him “Coach of the Year” in 1958 when the Argyle softball team won the state tournament, the girls’ basketball team was one of the “Sweet Sixteen”, the boys’ baseball team was a state semi-finalist, and the boys’ basketball team was a sub-state runner-up. He continued coaching at HLV, Victor, where again he was blessed with some dedicated athletes. John finished his teaching career as a counselor at Pella Community Schools. After retirement he spent his time on the farm east of Oskaloosa where he and his wife had lived since 1967, raising cattle and sheep. He was an active member of local and state sheep organizations, and served as a representative to national meetings. He and his wife were honored as Master Lamb Producers, and in 1997 were inducted into the Iowa Sheep Hall of Fame. Always interested in conservation and the outdoors, he worked as a summer ranger for two years at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. He served for sixteen years on the Mahaska County Conservation Board and on the board of the South Central Mental Health Center for seven years. In 2012 he was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. As the disease progressed and filled his lungs with fibrous tissue, he was able to do fewer and fewer of the things he wanted and needed to do, until he became prisoner in his own body. He passed from this life May 10, 2015. Now he is free. Survivors include his wife, Carol Jean, a sister, Esther White, three nephews, Al (Brenda) and Ken (Gail) Azinger and Clarence (Jamie) White, and a niece Lurajean (Bud) Gatton and their families. He is also survived by his wife’s nephews, John (Liz), Andy, and Mark (Lynda) Sauer and nieces, Wanda (Doug) Bagby and Debbie (Larry) Matheson and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Clifford (Elma) and Clarence (Albertha) White and a sister Luella (Gus) Azinger. Visitation and time of remembrance will be held on Sunday, May 17, at 1:30 p.m. in the First Assembly of God Family Fellowship Center at 716 South 17th ST in Oskaloosa. The southeast door on the lower level should be used for entrance. Burial will be in the Deuser Cemetery near Hedrick at a later date. Memorials may be made in his name to the Mahaska County Conservation Board for the construction of the Caldwell Learning Center. Praise God for a life well lived. PDF Printable Version