John Moore

John Moore, age 76, of Decorah died Saturday, July 5 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Services were held Friday, July 11 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah, with Rev. Chad Huebner officiating.
John William Moore was born May 3, 1938 in Ottumwa, the son of Homer and Bess (Brown) Moore.  John graduated from Franklin High School in 1956 in Cedar Rapids. He went on to attend Coe College and the University of Iowa. While in college, John was a Golden Glove Boxer and wrestled for the University of Iowa. While in school his nicknames were “Bill” and Pedie”.
John was married to Karen Biba, and they were the parents of Bryan, Craig and Julie. John joined Penney’s in 1960 and then was assigned to stores in Moline, IL, Evansville, IN, Lafayette, IN and Louisville, KY before his transfer and promotion in Decorah. John then was married to Sandy Peotter and together they had Adam and Abigail. While at Penney’s in Decorah, John was active in the Decorah Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and the Elks Lodge. He worked for JC Penney for 26 years, retiring in January 1986. After that he went to work for the Fred Carlson Co., and built many highways in the Midwest for 14 years. John was married to Pat Mettille Burroughs April 17, 1993 in Decorah, and Pat’s daughters are Angie and Stephanie.
Over the years, John enjoyed picking on people and was always making smart comments. He enjoyed his Irish heritage and ‘kissed the Blarney Stone’. John also was an avid Green Bay Packer and Iowa Hawkeye fan. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Decorah.
John is survived by his wife, Pat Moore of Decorah; his five children, Bryan (Rosa) Moore of Garland, TX, Craig (Theresa) Moore of Carrollton, TX, Julie (Michael) Schlaff of Charlotte, NC, Adam (Stephanie) Moore of Rochelle, IL and Abigail (Jason) Cross of Morgan Hill, CA; two step-daughters, Angie (Glen) Lansing of Postville and Stephanie (Zeb Holkesvik) Burroughs of Decorah; 15 grandchildren, along with a Cross grandbaby on the way; four great-grandchildren; two brothers, Dick Moore of Cedar Rapids and Jim (Jean) Moore of Rochester, MN; one sister, JoAnn Alexander of St. Louis, MO; his mother-in-law, Mary Kathleen Mettille of Waukon; his brothers- and sisters-in-law, John (Leona) Mettille of Caldwell, ID, Linda Mettille of Waukon, Butch (Debbie) Mettille of Waukon and Debbie (Tony) Schulte of Spring Grove, MN; his little buddy - his dog, Paco; along with many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Bess (Brown) Moore; and his father-in-law, LeRoy Mettille.
Honorary casketbearers were John’s grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Schluter-Balik Funeral Home of Decorah assisted the family with arrangements.