John "Jack" Fernhout

John “Jack” Fernhout was born March 6, 1926 in Milwaukee WI to Catherine (O’Connor) Fernhout, originally from Ireland, and John Fernhout originally from Holland. Jack was a WW II veteran, served in the 82nd Airborne unit as an Aerial Gunner and was most proud of their primary mission named Operation Manna/Chowhound where his unit dropped food to the starving Dutch population.

After the war, he began work at Standard Oil of Indiana in Milwaukee WI, where he met his wife, Eunice. They moved several times during his tenure with Standard Oil/Amoco Oil including Milwaukee, Madison WI, Baltimore MD, Roanoke VA, back to Baltimore MD, Arlington Heights IL and finally to West Des Moines, IA. Jack was fortunate enough to retire at the age of 59, after 35 years with the company. In his retirement he enjoyed pursuing multiple interests: he was a member of The Civil War Roundtable, Des Moines Modelaires Club (where he crashed and repaired more planes than he flew), served as an usher at the Des Moines Civic Center (so he could watch shows for free) and was a volunteer at the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Jack Fernhout was a devoted and loving husband, a wonderful father, as quick with a compliment as he was with a criticism, but his intent was always clear. He was an avid “letter to the editor” writer (mostly criticism) and a voracious reader (which made for a remarkable and mostly incomprehensible vocabulary). His life was well lived and he leaves a loving family with numerous long stories of his life.

Jack is survived by his wife of 60+ years, Eunice (Clinard) Fernhout; his children: Chris (Linda) Fernhout of San Antonio, TX, Diane (BJ) Grassmann of Neenah, WI, Mary Landreth of West Des Moines, IA; his twin sister, Rosemary Mahoney of Milwaukee, WI; and his grandchildren: Caity, Jack and Scott Grassmann, Christine and Casey Fernhout and Nick Landreth.

He was preceded in death by his oldest son, John Brian Fernhout; his parents; his brother-in-law, John Mahoney; and his nephew, Michael Mahoney.

The family would like to thank the numerous people who have surrounded and helped Eunice during this difficult time; VA Medical Center, Wesley Day Center, Rebuilding Together, West Des Moines Human Services, Unity Point Hospice and Good Samaritan Society and Nurse Lilly.

Jack passed away January 3, 2016. Services will be held Saturday, January 9, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 1627 Grand Avenue in West Des Moines at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held prior from 10 to 11 a.m. Burial will be at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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