Jon Iverson, 49, Northwood, Iowa

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Jon Steven Iverson, 49, rural Northwood, Iowa, died Tuesday, May 27, 2008, of cancer, surrounded by his family and pets.

A funeral service for Jon will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at the First Lutheran Church, 309 North 9th Street, Northwood, Iowa, with the Rev. Daniel R. Hart officiating. Burial will be in the Silver Lake Lutheran Cemetery, rural Northwood. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. South, Northwood. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Thursday at the church.

Jon Steven Iverson was born on Nov. 13, 1958, in Albert Lea, the fourth son of Jay and Agnes (Madsen) Iverson. Following his graduation from Northwood-Kensett High School in 1977, Jon courted and on Feb. 26, 1981, in Mason City, he was united in marriage to Janell Holtan, a Lake Mills sweetheart, and to this union his son Joshua and daughter Jessica were born.

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In 1978, beginning work for Water Tower Paint and Repair of Clear Lake, Jon saw an opportunity to subsidize his dream of becoming a farmer. The job also fulfilled a certain wanderlust, a zest for highflying peril, and the chance to work on a crew with similar espirit de corps as the Iverson brothers. During his 30-year career at Water Tower and its successor, McGuire Iron, Jon increasingly became zealously committed to the safe and sound water supply of the communities he served. In 2004, Jon&8217;s work was featured on German television&8217;s program, &8220;Inside USA.&8221;

Jon&8217;s dream to farm became real incrementally. Throughout the 1980&8217;s Jon farmed in partnership with brother James on the original Iverson homestead.

From 1990 to 2003, Jon purchased in pieces as available, the former Sophus and Tena Iverson farm and a small neighboring parcel. The Iverson brothers ridgetille the row crops and have reintroduced native grass species to the pastures. For over a century the Iverson cattle herd had been purebred Herefords. Jon was enthusiastic to the introduction of other bloodlines to create today&8217;s crossbred herd.

Jon was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Northwood, Iowa.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Janell Iverson of Northwood, Iowa, children; Joshua Iverson and his girl friend, Alyssa Akemann and her son Dylan of Northwood, Iowa, and Jessica Iverson and her fianc/e Jeremy Turvold of Mason City, three brothers, James Iverson Iver Iverson and Peter Iverson, six aunts and uncles, numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, neighbors, and colleagues in the water industry.

He was preceded in death by his brother Mark in 1978; father Jay in 1980; mother-in-law, DeElda Holtan in 1988, father-in-law, Wayne Holtan in 1995, and mother Agnes in 2004.

Jon&8217;s family would like to say a special thank you to Hospice of North Iowa for their special loving care they have shown to them.