John Morse

February 25, 2023

John Morse

Service Details

John Nelson Morse, 76, passed away peacefully at Methodist Hospital surrounded by his children on February 25, 2023. John was born to Darrel and Marge (Nelson) Morse on July 26, 1946. John met Patty Hanks at North High School, and they married December 17, 1968. Together they had two children who they adored, Jeff and Jill. John and Patty were married 49 years before her death in 2018.

John started his 41-year career in the Insurance Industry at IMT Insurance. After 20 years, he made the move to Nationwide where he retired in 2010. He truly loved his work and the people he worked with. What John loved most was spending time with his children and his grandchildren. We don’t remember an event he missed from a ball game, a recital, a play, a church event, and even elementary recorder and band concerts. Papa John was always there. If John wasn’t at a family event, he could be found at coffee on Wednesdays, volunteering at Caring Hands, or enjoying his family lake home at Sun Valley Lake. John will be remembered for being extremely quick-witted, for his unwavering dedication, and proudly donning an “Old Guys Rule” shirt. His hair was always freshly combed, his pocket contained a “hankie” and he stayed current with Top 40 Radio. Thanks to being a carpool grandpa for many years, he could sing along to Thrift Shop, Royals, and loved a good Post Malone song. He could cook better than any of us, and he made sure to compliment your abilities as almost as good as his. Or not even close. He made us all laugh and smile. We all knew we were loved.

Left to cherish his memory are son, Jeff (Jackie) of West Des Moines; daughter, Jill Morse Heimerman of Ankeny; five grandchildren, Grant and Cassandra Morse, and Benjamin, Elizabeth, and Lauren Heimerman; sister Janet (Mark) Boyd of Des Moines; brother Jim (Linda) Morse of Brookline, MA; sister-in-law Pam (Greg) Kenyon of Waukee; brother-in-law John (Cyndi) Hanks of Mission Viejo, CA; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, his grandchildren’s friends that frequented the lake house, his Wednesday Coffee Buddies, and his beloved grandpets Max, Finley, Tessa, and Louie. John was preceded in death by his loving wife, his parents, his brothers-in-law and sister-in law Orbin and Cindy Hanks, Steve Hanks and in-laws, Woody and Marie Hanks.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 2, 2023 from 5-7 PM at Altoona Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW, Altoona. A Celebration of Life will be on Friday, March 3, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Ankeny First United Methodist Church, 206 SW Walnut Street, Ankeny.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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