Obituary for John Phillip Sales

John Phillip (Jack) Sales, age 85, passed away at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, February 1, 2017.

John was born March 29, 1931 in Madison, South Dakota. His lifelong interests became apparent at an early age. He spent time exploring the outdoors and learning about the outside world through voracious reading. John learned to play the trombone in first grade; and a few short years later he was asked to play in the high school marching band. . He continued making music after high school, singing and playing his trombone around the Midwest as a member of a traveling dance band.

Shortly after graduating from Sibley High School in 1949, he married the love of his life, Joyce Evonne Nicks, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. In their early married life, Jack and Joyce raised their five children in Sibley where he and his father owned Sales Plumbing and Heating. Jack had an amazing talent for fixing things, and inventing things to fix things.

John continued his craft after moving to Iowa City in 1966. In Iowa City, he managed the University of Iowa’s Plumbing and Steam Shop. At work, Jack specialized in providing plumbing to University research labs. Outside of work, John and Joyce rehabilitated old homes in Iowa City. Jack could fix anything with skills in plumbing, carpentry, electric, masonry, welding, and mechanics. He had an amazing ability to work hard at work, work hard after work, and then play; all with minimal sleep.

Perhaps John’s proudest achievement was his 53 years of sobriety and his involvement with Alcoholics Anonymous. After achieving and maintaining his own sobriety, Jack worked with, sponsored, and counseled many people recovering from alcoholism. He also made lifelong friends through the organization and continued to attend meetings up until the last few weeks of his life.

John’s children and grandchildren will treasure many memories with him on his pontoon, staying up late at night talking about ghosts, singing, fishing, rock hunting. John will be remembered by all who knew him for his kindness, ability to overcome adversity and love and devotion to his family, especially his wife and true life partner, Joyce.

John is survived by his sister Norinne Petersen, and brother Fred (Marilyn) Sales, five children and 13 grandchildren: Jerri Lynn (John) Bricker and their children: Christine, Matt (Heidi), and Alina Bricker; Jeffrey Scott Sales and his children: Amanda (Tim) Goodhall, Brianne (Tom) Irlbeck, and Zachary (Karen Guzman) Sales; Jeb Douglas Sales and his children: Jerrad and Joseph Sales, and Joel Thomas (Tracy) Sales and their children: Kyle (Lindsay) and Erik Sales and grandchildren Amo, John (Christine Walsh) Sales, and Josh (Cristi Downs) Sales, 12 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his son John David Sales, his wife Joyce Evonne and his parents Fred and Esther (Strom) Sales.

Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery at 3pm. Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life at Blackstone, 503 Westbury Dr #1 in Iowa City from 4-6 pm on Sunday April 23, 2017.