John Miehe
May 18, 1929 to July 16, 2018
John Edward Miehe, 89, of Elkader, died Monday, July 16, 2018, at Central Community Hospital in Elkader, Iowa.
John was born May 18, 1929, at Mercy Hospital, Oelwein, Iowa to parents Elmer J. and Marie M. (Kelleher) Miehe. He graduated from St. Joseph’s School, Elkader, Iowa, in 1948.
John entered the US Army on January 15, 1951, serving in Korea and Japan. He was honorably discharged on January 15, 1953.
On February 14, 1953, John married Vernelda L. Fehlhafer at St. Joseph’s Church in Elkader.
Upon returning from his military service, he joined his father in the family John Deere business for 31 years until the business was sold. In May 1977, he started a new business, Elkader Diesel & Electric. The business was sold in 1988, at which time John retired.
He was a charter member of the Elkader Lions, served as an Elkader fireman, a St. Joseph’s Church council member, a member of the Lemka-Stendel American Legion Post #106, board member of the Elkader Gold & Country Club, and served on the Central Community Hospital board of directors. He liked to tell stories and was extremely proud of his family.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Vernelda, daughter Lynn (Richard) Thompson of Oelwein, Iowa, son
David (Darcy) Miehe of Elkader; his four grandchildren, Reece Thompson, Jesse (Marissa Thompson, Trisha (Tim) Finley, Richard (Jessica) Miehe; six great-grandchildren, Jillian and Declan Finley, Lucy, Pearl and Sage Miehe and Sawyer Thompson; sister-in-law, Sharon Miehe; brother-in-law, Ed Fehlhafer and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Daniel, Patrick and James; sisters-in-law, Dottie Miehe, Mary Jane Miehe and Vonda Fehlhafer; nephew Michael Miehe and niece, Carrie Miehe.
A visitation was held from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday, July 20, 2018, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elkader. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11 a.m. on Friday also at St. Joseph with Rev. John Haugen officiating Interment was at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Elkader.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Elkader assisted the family. Online condolences may be left with www.graufuneralhomes.com.
