Obituary for John Elvin Holmes

John E. Holmes, 72, of Alden, Iowa passed away Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at Mercy Hospital in Mason City, Iowa. At John''s request his body was cremated and a private family service and burial will be held in Durant, Iowa at a later date. John Elvin Holmes was born February 21, 1938 at Manilla, Crawford County, Iowa, the son of James C. And Eva (Lahr) Holmes. John graduated from the Durant High School with the class of 1956 and then entered the U. S. Navy where he became a medical corpsman. He was also attatched to the 1st Marine Division, 5th Marines, Charlie company as a corpsman. After his service duty was completed he attended and graduated from the Allied Institute of Technology in Chicago, Illinois. He also attended missionary training with New Tribes Mission from 1973–1974. On May 1, 1965 he was united in marriage to Margaret Ann Peterson at the Stockton Baptist church in Stockton, Iowa. To this union 5 children were born: James Dale, Jennifer Kay, Jeffry John, Stephanie Ann and Joseph Charles. John worked primarly as a factory laborer during his work career. He worked at Alcoa (10 years), North Star Steel, Farmland Foods(10 years)and Boyt Luggage (12 years). He also served as a pastor and Sunday school teacher to mission churches and did pulpit supply. Most importand in John''s life was his faith and love of his Lord Jesus and of his family, especially his grandchildren. He will always be remembered for his dry wit and strong work ethic. He attended the Missionary Alliance Church in Blairsburg, Iowa. John Holmes is survived by his wife, Margaret of Alden; his children: James(Cindy)Holmes of McCallsburg; Jennifer Holmes of Story City; Stephanie(Paul) Widmann of Iowa Falls and Joseph(Merle) Holmes of Mildenhall, England; six grandchildren: Joshua Holmes; Nathan, Rachel, ryan and Eli Widmann, Ceitlyn Grace Holmes and two step grandchildren, Deiv and Kenet Saareleht. He is also survived by his siblings: Richard Holmes, Stockton; Kathleen(Ralph)Tomlinson of Wilton; Cecilia Ann Rice of Stockton; Rosemary Holmes of Stockton and brother-in-law, Marvin Peterson of Davison, Michigan. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceeded in death by his parents: James and Eva Holmes, three brothers in early childhood and infancy and an infant son Jeffry John Holmes.