John Anthony Van Dam

John Anthony Van Dam, 74 years old, of Remsen, IA, died Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 at Happy Siesta Health Care Center in Remsen.

Memorial mass will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 3, 2016, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen with Rev. William McCarthy officiating and Deacon Rick Roder assisting. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery in Remsen. Graveside military honors will be conducted by Post 220 American Legion and Post 3328 VFW of Remsen. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. There will be a parish rosary at 5 p.m. and a vigil prayer service at 7 p.m. all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen. Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument of Remsen. Condolences may be sent online to www.fischfh.com.

John was born June 30, 1942, at Marcus, IA, the son of Marinus A. and Alma (Flisher) Van Dam. He was raised on the family farm in rural Marcus and received his education at Holy Name School in Marcus. John then enlisted in the Iowa National Guard from 1963 to 1969

On Nov. 30, 1963 he married Mary Ellen Goergen at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, by Msgr. Francis Schultes. John worked at various local John Deere dealerships throughout his 40-year career, as a John Deere tractor mechanic until his retirement in 2004. He was then self-employed for several more years as a tractor mechanic. John was rated as the top John Deere Mechanic in all of Northwest Iowa.

John was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church. John enjoyed life and his many hobbies and interests included race car driving, horseback riding, camping, fishing and boating. John also loved to ride and take trips on his Harley and he built many pieces of beautiful furniture for family and friends. John loved his family and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Survivors include: his wife Mary of Remsen; his children, Rich (Kari) Van Dam of Remsen, Bev (Danny) Young of Frankfort, KY, Steve (Tonya) Van Dam of Nevada, IA, Joe (Kristi) Van Dam of North Liberty, IA; 5 grandchildren, Tyler and Emily Van Dam, Alex and Abby Van Dam and Kelsey Young; 2 step grandchildren, Ashley (Kevin) Corkey and Carissa (Karl) Warner; step great-granddaughter, Laikyn Warner; his sisters, Ann (Mike) Tentinger of Remsen, Barb (Bruce) Ludwigs of LeMars, IA, Nina Van Dam of Cherokee, IA; one brother, Nick (Theresa) Van Dam of Remsen, and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded by: his parents; his parents-in-law, Louis and Cecilia Goergen, his sisters, Betty (Larry) Oliver, Patricia (Gordon Riedemann) Stofferan and Mary Jo Van Dam in infancy, brother-in-law, Alvin Singer, and sister-in-law, JoAnn (Goergen) Vandemore.