John Allen Wales

John Allen Wales

John Allen Wales
November 14, 1960 – December 24, 2022
Bussey, Iowa | Age 62

John Allen Wales, age 62, of Bussey, passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2022, at the MHP Emergency Room in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was born on November 14, 1960, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, to John T. and Alice Ilene DeJong Wales. John grew up north of Bussey, Iowa on a farm. He was the oldest of 4 and also had a half-brother and a half-sister.

John graduated on May 17, 1979, from Twin Cedars Community School District. In 1992, he graduated from American Institute of Business and was their only triple major with Associate Degree in Accounting, Business Management and Insurance. In 1994, he graduated from Upper Iowa with a double major in Accounting and Management. In 1997, he graduated from Drake University with a Master of Public Administration Degree.

On October 1, 1983, he was united in marriage to Theresa Wales at the Knoxville Church of the Nazarene. To this union two children were born, Thomas and Amanda. John and Theresa divorced years later.

On August 15, 2015, he was united in marriage to Beth Reiman-Davis at the Bussey Community Center.

John had a very extensive military career. He entered Basic and Advanced Individual Training on May 18, 1979. He was a Combat Military Policeman. He was also one of the unit’s sharp shooters. John was involved with many military adventures, including the Pope’s visit in 1979, Cuban Refugee Program in 1980 and the 1982 Governor’s Convention when it was held in Des Moines that year. He enjoyed being on the opposition force for many exercises. In 1985 he went to work for the Iowa Army National Guard at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa, as an Army maintenance clerk. In February 1987, he was selected as the first Supply Sergeant in the Regional Training Site-Iowa Army National Guard, which at the time was the 2nd highest priority in the United States Army. John ended his military career with an honorable discharge under medical conditions in February of 1989, after a failed knee surgery. His military training set the stage for his life in regard to how he treated people with dignity and respect.

John worked for various companies throughout the 1990’s as an accountant, assistant store manager, credit manager and office manager. John was one of the few non-certified public accountants to argue before the Internal Revenue Service about employees and sub-contractor business relationships and win 3 times. John was an over-the-road truck driver for 9 years. He also worked for the Department of Corrections and Chief Union Steward at the Mitchellville Women’s Prison. John was always a true soldier at heart, fighting for the underdogs and the oppressed in any fight. During his years since retirement, he enjoyed his work as a property and commercial insurance inspector. He also worked as an insurance inspector for a 3rd party company firm for a time.

John’s family and friends were the light of his life, and he would do anything for them. He liked working on old houses and restoring them. Although he didn’t like to work on cars, he could do it.

John went to church at the Knoxville Church of the Nazarene and was quite active there though he wasn’t a member. He became a Christian on February 3, 1980.

John was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Mason, where he served as Worshipful Master for 2 years in Integrity Lodge Number 584 in Bussey, Iowa, and 3 years in Astor Lodge Number 505 in Albia, Iowa. John’s true love of the Masonic Orders was the Blue Lodges. He was a member of Albia Chapter Number 240 of the Order of the Eastern Star. He was a member of Christina Court Number 3 of the Order of Amaranth, where he was a Grand Associate Patron of the Amaranth. He was also a member of Des Moines York and the Des Moines Scottish Rite.

He is survived by his true friend and loyal wife, Beth Wales of Bussey; his daughter, Amanda Wales of Knoxville; a son, Thomas Wales of Knoxville; his step children: Matthew (& Alexis Billings) Davis of Keokuk, Michaela Davis of Kahoka, Missouri, Melanie (& Skylar Ditto) Davis of Keokuk and Megan Davis of Kahoka; his brothers, Roger Wales of Bussey and Raymond (& Janet) Wales of Albia; his sister, Bonnie (& Rick) Bartell of Bussey; a half-brother, Kevin Van Weelden of Knoxville; a half-sister, Kathy Jo (& Denny) Crook of Knoxville; his mother, Alice Wales of Bussey and his in-laws, Burl and Roxie Nichols of Kahoka. He is also survived by many aunts, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, John T. Wales; his uncles: Kenneth Wales, John Van Weeldon, Don DeJong, Marion Gray and Leonard Wales; his aunts: Esther Kooyman, Lora Newton and Ila Mae Josephs. He is also preceded by other family members and close friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the Knoxville Church of the Nazarene in Knoxville, Iowa, with pastor Scott Olson officiating.
Burial with military rites will be held in Liberty Cemetery near Bussey, Iowa following funeral services. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be held on Friday, December 30, from 4-7 p.m. with a Masonic Service at 6:30 p.m. at the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with John’s family present to greet relatives and guests.
Memorials may be made to the family.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John Allen Wales please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.

Posted by on Dec 25 2022. Filed under Obituaries. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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