John William LaCoste, age 76, of Osage, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2025 in Osage at Faith Lutheran Home, surrounded by family, after a battle with bone cancer.
John was born April 7, 1948, in Osage, the son of Donald and Hilda (Muller) LaCoste. He graduated from Osage High School in 1967, and Hawkeye Institute of Technology in 1968. John went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force during the years of 1968-1972, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, as a jet engine mechanic. John married Velda Jorgensen at Our Savior’s Lutheran church, March 15, 1969. Upon his return from service, John and Velda farmed with his parents south of Osage. John continued to run the farm with his mother after his father’s passing in 1977, until the sale of the farm in 1994. The years on the farm were filled with hard times and great times, but fondly remembered by all of us is the menagerie of cows, goats, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, guineas, briefly pigs and sheep, as well as his donkey, Brother Ben. John and his longtime friend, Kenny Heimendinger worked together for years raising quality mammoth jackstock (really big donkeys). John and Kenny’s jackstock venture is the standard still referenced across the country today.
After the farm sale, John and Velda moved to town. He worked briefly at Tops, the Osage High School, and then for a number of years at Norby John Deere in the parts department. John retired from the Osage School System after working as the head custodian at Lincoln Elementary for 9 years. He also worked at the Osage Community Daycare and at the AmericInn as the maintenance supervisor. John continued to work during his retirement years as the neighborhood handyman and snow removal/ lawn service guy. If something needed doing, John was on the job. Behind the scenes, John’s favorite pastimes were collecting John Deere implement toys, tinkering on machinery, restoring antique toy farm implements and attending his grandchildren’s activities throughout the years.
John continued his service to his community by being an active member of the Orchard American Legion Post 641, past service on the REC Board, as a Soil and Water Commissioner, on the Osage Park Board, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church property board, Pheasants Forever Committee and was a Bridges Mentoring mentor for a number of years.
Your work is finally done. Rest easy servant of God, rest.
John is survived by his wife, Velda LaCoste of Osage, daughter; Jennifer (Eric) Bauer of Waterloo; son, Bradley (Beth) LaCoste of Olathe, Kansas; five grandchildren, Ellen and Ethan (Sierra) Bauer; Emma, Robert and Henry LaCoste; two sisters, Carolyn Walk of Fredricksburg and Donna Hawkinson of Fountain Hills, Arizona; the brother he never had, Kenny Heimendinger and all of his many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Duane Walk; foster child, Steven Zimmerman.
A Memorial service will be held 2:00pm, Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 833 Ash Street, Osage, with Pastor Cindy Krause officiating. Burial will follow in the Osage Cemetery where military honors will be provided by the Orchard American Legion Post 641.
In lieu of flowers and other customary gifts, please consider donations in John’s honor to the American Cancer Society.
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