Jon R. Moeller
December 04, 2013
Jon Moeller, 62, passed away December 4, 2013 after developing a dissected aorta. Jon was born April 7, 1951 to Lyle and Emma Moeller of Gladbrook, Iowa. He was raised on the family farm with his brother and two sisters and graduated from Gladbrook High School in 1969. Jon’s passion was wrestling, and he won the state championship as a senior at 112 pounds, capping an undefeated season of 29-0.
He went on to wrestle at the University of Northern Iowa under Chuck Patten. He was a North Central Conference Champion, earning All-American honors in 1971. After graduation, Jon taught and coached wrestling at West Marshall High School. In 1974, he went to Saydel High School, where he coached wrestling, taught drivers’ education, was the activities director and assistant vice principal. He got his Master’s degree in 1980 at Northeast Missouri State, now Truman State University. Jon married his wife Joanne in 1987. In 1989, Jon left education and started his own sales business.
Jon stayed active in wrestling most of his life, either coaching, refereeing, or volunteering at high school and wrestling events. Most recently Jon was an enthusiastic member of the UNI Panther Wrestling Club, where he was a board member and vice president.
While at Saydel, Jon became a member of the Moingona Hunt Club and spent many Sundays riding his great mare CC with the hunt on a fruitless quest for fox. Besides wrestling, Jon’s other great passion was polo. He had been a member of the Des Moines Polo Club for nearly 30 years, and was always on the lookout for a new polo pony to add to his string. He loved horses and spent many hours working with them (and cleaning tack).
Wherever he went, Jon made many friends, whether it was through horses, wrestling, school or otherwise. He never missed an opportunity to help others; Jon’s last selfless act was to be a tissue donor. He was patient, kind, and never complained about all the animals his wife brought home. Missing him very much are his wife, Joanne; son, Ben; mother, Emma; brother, Jay (Debbie Anne); and sisters, Jess (Mike) Putnam and Jo Arbuckle. He was preceded in death by his father, Lyle.
Many thanks to the dedicated physicians and nurses at Iowa Methodist who went to extraordinary lengths to care for Jon and his family. Visitation will be at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW, from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at Lutheran Church of the Cross, 1701 8th St. SW in Altoona, followed by burial at Canfield Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the UNI Panthers Wrestling Club, P.O. Box 1131, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614 or Friends of Iowa Public Television.
Online condolences may be expressed at
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Kevin Smith Family
12/31/2013
I cannot express in words what I feel after hearing the loss of Jon. Life can seem so unfair. I have known Jon for at least 56 years and he has also been a great individual and friend to everyone he knew. As his neighbor and classmate through high school, I can tell you what a great individual he really was. He accomplished so many things some of us just dream about. Whenever a classmate passes on, a piece of our heart goes with them as they can never be replaced. Jon was indeed a great individual in every sense of the word. I will miss him as many others will also. I was proud to have known him and will not forget the fond memories he left with me. To Emma's family and Jon's, We love you, we loved Jon, and our hearts and tears are with you in mourning his loss. God bless.
Dick Budde
12/27/2013
I recently heard through Jim Gethmann about Jon's passing, am so sorry for your loss. Jon was just enough older than me (I'm class of 73) that I did not know him well personally. But just wanted to say what a beautiful family the Moeller family is. You have always been pillars of the Gladbrook community, and I have many wonderful memories of those years with Lyle, Emma, Everett and Dorothy being around. A little trivia: Do I recall that Lyle and Everett were together in the first year ever of the Wolf Creek Whirlwinds 4H Club? The Good Old Days!
We shall keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers, and I have included our e-mail if you would like to keep in touch. I will also make my sisters Karen and Pat aware of Jon's passing.
Dick and Denise Budde Lisbon, IA
John Swailes
12/18/2013
Dear Moller Family:
I learned of Jon's passing from Pat Bannon who attended the funeral celebration and wrote me about it shortly afterwards.
I have many pleasant memories of time spent more than 40 years ago with Jon and Jessica. Pat and I wrestled Gladbrook many times and grew to know Jon fairly well. During the same time period I met Jessica in Cedar Falls through a United Nations program and then subsequently grew to know the entire family better.
I talked with Jon just a couple years ago to catch up on his life and the Moeller family evolution which has occurred in the intervening years.
I wish I could have joined Pat for the funeral. I am sorry for your loss. Jon was part of a special family all of whom I remember well and with whom I share your sense of loss.
John Swailes
Solomons, MD
Chuck and Bev Knight
12/11/2013
At this time of sorrow may we all take comfort in the huge show of support for Jon. His positive impact on so many lives will be carried on by those who were proud to call him friend, coach, teacher, coworker, teammate, or family. Thank you Saydel "family" for you support. Chuck's mom at 100 may have summed it up best..."he was always so nice to me" as he was to all. Rest in Peace "Uncle Jon"
Chuck, Bev and LaVona-Ankeny,
Brad, Amanda, Hailee, and Jerzee
Clarinda,
Kipp and Anna-Roeland Park,KS
Hal and Linda Moon
12/10/2013
Dear Moeller family and friends;
We all have special stories and memories of Jon. We will re- veal them, re- live them, re- love them until we see Jon again....
With God's speed.
Carole (Alvestad) Otteman
12/10/2013
Dear Joanne, Ben, Emma, Jessica, Jay and Jo,
It is hard to imagine your sorrow at losing Jon. I never met Jon's wife and son but know what wonderful people they must be. Jon was such a great guy in high school - the type of person you would want your own son to grow up to be. Jo, you have such an amazing family and I always loved spending time at your house. It was always full of energy, smiles and laughter.
I pray that your years of memories with Jon will give you strength. I wish I could have been at the funeral to give you a hug. Sending prayers for you all.
Linda Ryan
12/09/2013
Jo, you spoke so much about your family and how much you loved seeing them here and traveling when you could to see them and participate in their activities when time allowed. I am so sorry for your loss and please know your family at Drake University is with you at this time.
Brett St John
12/09/2013
Joanne, I just saw the obituary in the paper . I am so very sorry for your lose. My prayers to you and your family.
Lynn Hardt
12/09/2013
Joanne, I was sorry to read of Jon's death in the newspaper. Though I never had the opportunity to meet him, I know he must have been a very special person. We especially appreciate his gift of tissue--as you may know, Henry has been the recipient of two corneal transplants which have changed the quality of his life. Thank you for this very special gift. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and Ben.
Lynn Hardt
Inge and Lothar Bechtum
12/09/2013
Dear Joanne, Ben , Emma, Jessica ,Jay & Jo.
Marlin informed us to about the unexpected death of Jon. We want to express our deepest condolences.
It is hard to find the correct words we would like anyway to have you known that we are close to you in thought. We wish you much strength for the upcoming time.
Today we looked at the pictures we had taken when we had visited you at your farm in July, 2001 together with our children Alexandra and Maurice.
Yours Inge and Lothar from Wetzlar - Germany
Karen Redmond
12/09/2013
I know this is a very difficult time for you, but take comfort in knowing you have many friends and family members that are willing to help with anything you may need. My thoughts are with you.
Diane Kleen
12/08/2013
Joanne and Ben, I am so saddened to hear of Jon's passing. He seemed so invincible, it doesn't seem possible. My boyfriend (now husband), Steve Benjamin, was a roommate of Jon's as they taught at Saydel. Jon offered me so much advice as I interviewed and he helped me so much through my first years as a teacher at Johnston High School. Jon was a man true to his word, he had your back and your best interests at all times. Jon was a person of integrity and above all, Jon was such a kind compassionate man. Jon will be greatly missed by so many! God bless you during this very tough time.
Mike Casebolt
12/08/2013
Jon Moeller family- I was shocked when I saw Jon's obit in the paper. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. God bless you.
Corky Feuerbach
12/08/2013
Joanne,Ben, and the Moeller family.
Dalona and I are deeply saddened about Jon's passing. I met Jon when we were 12 years old at the Tama County Fair where we showed 4-H claves together, and became fast-friends while spraying girls in the wash rack. Mostly what we did when we were together ( our whole lives) was laugh.We kept in touch and after highschool graduation we entered UNI together in 1969 and were room-mates at Shull hall our freshman and sophomore years and Pledged Phi-Sigma-Epsilon Fraternity together during that time, where we met many "brothers" that are still our brothers today. Jon was loved by everyone that new him, he was the most honest and sincere person I have ever met, Dalona and I named our yougest son Dustin Jon after Jon, because I wanted my son to grow to be as good a person as he was. He was truely a great man, he had a calm fun demeanor about him and a kind heart, but when he stepped on the wrestling mat he had the heart of a LION. I will never spend a day the rest of my life without thinking of him and reflecting on the great times we had together.
God Bless you, and help you through this troubledd time.
David Pike
12/08/2013
Deeply saddened to hear about Jon's passing. My thoughts and prayers go out to all his family. Jon was a great UNI wrestling teammate and friend on and off the mat. He will be dearly missed by all, as will his support of UNI wrestling. God bless.