John Mason

John Francis Mason, Jr. passed away on Saturday, September 1, 2012, with his family by his side, at Luther Park Trinity Center in Des Moines. John was born on October 28, 1919, in Des Moines, to John Sr. and Zeta Catherine (Cocke) Mason.

John graduated from Lincoln High School in 1939. He married Phyllis Epps on October 4, 1943. They were coming up on 69 years of marriage. They lived a majority of their married life in Carlisle where they raised their four children. John also served his country proudly during WWII in the 3rd Armored Division of the U.S. Army from September 1942 to February 1946. During that time he attended x-ray school. He was wounded in Germany on April 19, 1945, and was involved in the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp chain. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his service.

John worked for Else Grocery from 1946 to 1952, managed a store in Fort Des Moines, worked for Beatrice Foods from 1952 to 1976, and after 24 years of dedicated service, he retired from the Meadow Gold Ice Cream Company. He was also a member of Missionary Baptist Church in Carlisle. John’s many hobbies include reading Westerns, horseback riding, traveling (including visiting his son and family in the Philippines in 1978), and spending time with his brothers, close friends, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Those left behind to cherish John’s legacy are his loving wife, Phyllis; his children, Larry (Marilyn) Mason, Carol (Doug) Watson, Jim (Linda) Mason, and Beth (Nick) Adams; his nine grandchildren, Michael (Erin) Watson, Kari (Justin) Ihle, Jennie (David) Smith, Joanna and Jaime Mason, Jill (Mark) Hopkins, Jason (Julie) Mason, Alex and Dylan Adams; his eleven great-grandchildren; siblings, George and Mary Jean; and a host of other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Matthew Mason; and siblings, Alice, Helen, Sarah, and Richard.

Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street in Des Moines. He will be laid to rest at Sunset Memorial Gardens following the service. Family will greet visitors from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at the funeral home.

John’s family wishes to express a special thank you to the staff at Trinity Center at Luther Park for their continued care for John. Memorial contributions may be directed to Missionary Baptist Church in Carlisle, or to the Alzheimer’s Association in remembrance of John.

On-line condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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