Jon R. Moeller

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.

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