John Abeltins
March 04, 2012
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Service Details
John Randall Abeltins, 76, passed away March 5, 2012, at Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He was born June 23, 1935, in Latvia, to Edouards and Zenta Abeltins. John came to America with his parents, sister, and brother, and moved from Pennsylvania to Audubon, Iowa.
He joined the Unites States Marines after high school graduation. John was an Iowa State Trooper for 37 years, retiring in 1996. He was a member of Westchester Evangelical Free Church in Des Moines.
His love of life, family and friends made him special to everyone that knew him.
John was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife, Joan; son, Lonn (Robin) Abeltins and granddaughter, Chelsea; daughter, Peg (Scott) Whitehurst and grandson, Ian; son, Mike Abeltins; step-daughter, Leslie (Scott) Christensen and grandchildren, Aidan and Camden; step-son, Brian (Wendy) Beal and grandchildren, Dakota and Zayne; sister, Astrida (Zig) Riders; niece, Karlina; nephew, Marcus (Erin) and baby Zenta; and his brother, Jake (Betty Ann) Abeltins.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, March 9, 2012, at Westchester Evangelical Free Church, 4919 Aurora Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50310, with burial at Iowa Veterans Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 8, at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Westchester Evangelical Free Church, or the Lewey Body Dementia Association, www.lbda.org, 912 Killian Hill Road SW, Lilburn, GA 30047, in loving memory of John Abeltins.
Online condolences may be made to:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Tom & Sally Sprunk
03/07/2012
Though we are several states away, know that we are with you in spirit.
Bob Dougherty
03/07/2012
Mike
I'm sorry for your families loss. Godspeed John Abeltins ?
Mike and Kim Moore
03/07/2012
Peg, Our deepest sympathy. You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
Michael Warman
03/07/2012
Best wishes and respects.
george clark
03/07/2012
john was one of the most admired men in the sport of bowling ,not only in Des Moines but in the state of Iowa .I have some many memories of bowling trips with big John, all will stay with me forever. John was a true friend for over 45 years. I will miss John, as will all his bowling buddies.
Mel McCleary
03/07/2012
Joan,
John was partially responsible for my pursuing the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety as a career. John was a mentor, and someone I respected during my high school years in Ankeny. One summer night in 1965 around midnight on deserted 1st Street seven miles east of Ankeny I was with my friend from Bondurant in a 1965 Ford Falcon drag racing another Ford Falcon through our measured quarter mile. At the end of the race(we lost by the way) we could see about four miles away the red cherry on top of an Iowa Highway patrol car blinking in the night. If John really wanted to catch us he of course wouldn't have turned on his red light so soon. We turned around, and high tailed it back to Logli's Super Valu parking lot in Ankeny where we talked about our cars. It wasn't more than a minute when Trooper John Abeltins turned into the lot. We were all more than just a little bit nervous. He talked with us for several minutes without once mentioning anything about a drag race. We learned more that night than if he had written us all tickets.
John lived in Southlawn subdivision less than a block from my house when we were growing up. There were many times when we'd be playing in the yard, and we'd hear that all too familiar sound of the revving of engines coming from John's garage. We'd hurry, and walk past to see John putting on some new high performance parts on his 1964 Ford patrol car that John had received from Ford Motor Company to test. I'm sure that John could test those parts better than most highway patrolmen.
John and I talked about this a few years before I retired in 2003. I don't know if anyone will ever know how many lives John influenced during his career, and he was truly one of a kind.
My condolences to you and your family on your loss. John will be missed, but not forgotten.
Mel McCleary
Retired, Special Agent, Iowa DCI
Randy & Lindsey
03/06/2012
Our thoughts & prayers of strength are with you & your family, Mikey. We are here for you & love you.
Randy & Lindsey