John “Jack” Pops” Hangartner, 78, of Charles City, went to be with the Lord and his wife Merle on Sunday, August 13, 2017. He passed away at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City with his daughter Krystal and good friend Kathy at his side.
A funeral service for Jack Hangartner will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 18, 2017 at First Baptist Church in Charles City with Pastor Ruth Yeaton officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City.
Visitation will be at Hauser Funeral Home from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 17, 2017 and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
John Louis Hangartner was born July 25, 1939 in Postville, Iowa to Louis and Gertrude (Harris) Hangartner. He helped his parents run the family’s cheese factory in Volney, Iowa while being raised in the Postville and Monona area. He married Connie Jones and to this union seven children were born: Madonna, Tammy, Fawn, Dixie, Wendy, Johnny and Bobbie. The couple later divorced. Jack was then united in marriage to Merle (Goddard) Christensen on April 12, 1969 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. This union was blessed with one daughter, Krystal K. Hangartner.
Jack was a janitor at the Charles City High School for almost 30 years until his retirement in 1994. He later worked at the Shaw Avenue Dump in Charles City (which he loved because he could talk to people) and he mowed yards for several customers.
His given name was John, but most called him by his nicknames: “Jack”, or as Krystal called him, “Pops”. He loved to go to McDonald’s (which he called the Liars Club) and Hy-Vee to chit chat. Jack also loved Party in the Park, jam sessions at the Senior Center, was an avid sports fan and will be missed by many.
Jack’s kitties, Sunny and Midnight, were his buddies. Sunny was adopted from McDonald’s (one of the workers said there was an old man feeding the kitten, it was Pops, so Sunny was adopted by him). Jack was an icon who drove a tan Chevy truck that was all beat up, but he said, “It runs.” He loved going to First Baptist Church when he was able. His last family outing was at his son-in-law’s family farm in Wadena (Jack had a great time). He enjoyed family Christmas gatherings in Oelwein and family traditions in Waukon. It won’t be the same not seeing Pops around driving his truck in Charles City or seeing it at McDonald’s.
My dad would want to be remembered as a simple man, simply laid to rest…I’m gonna miss you Pops.
Jack is survived by his children: Krystal (Brett) Batterson, Dan Christensen, Madonna, Tammy, Fawn, Dixie, Wendy, Johnny and Bobbie; several grandchildren; great-grandchildren; brother, Greg Hangartner; and two sisters: Sandy Echard and Josie Welch.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; grandson in infancy; step-son, Jimmy Christensen; step-daughter, Carol Martin; brother, Jerry Hangartner; two sisters: Judy Scheffert and Joyce Mork; brother-in-law, Ralph Welch; and niece, Jackie Welch.
In lieu of flowers please direct memorials to the family.
Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, in Charles City, is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hauserfh.com.
RIP Jackass. Loved all the jokes you had