John L Mammenga

Little Rock, Iowa John L. Mammenga, age 78 of Little Rock, IA died Sunday, April 8, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Center in George, IA. Funeral service will take place 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 11th, 2012 at First Baptist Church, George, IA with Rev. Stephen May officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Lawn Cemetery in George. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 10th, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home in George, IA. John Loren Mammenga was born August 4, 1933 in George, IA to William and Minnie (Thiele) Mammenga. He was raised and received his education in George. John entered the United States Army and served 2 years before his discharge in December of 1955. On September 28, 1957 he was united in marriage to Alvira Mae Dreessen. To this union six children were born. The couple and family made their home primarily in the Sibley/Little Rock area and spent several years in Eden, South Dakota. A carpenter by trade, John spent the bulk of his career self-employed. He could easily be described as a Jack-of-all-trades and could fix almost anything. He was also fond of fixing and operating old gas single piston engines, baking, canning and gardening. But his true passion of a pastime was fishing. He spent many happy hours in search of the big one. His family will remember him fondly. He will be greatly missed. John is survived by his children, Bill (Marilyn) Mammenga of Rock Rapids, IA, Marge Smith of Troy, MO, Cindy Wilgers of Sioux Falls, SD, Loren (Melissa) Mammenga of Little Rock, IA, and Vonda Macklin of Galena, KS; special nephew, Dennis Mammenga; brother, Orval (Pat) Mammenga of Prescott Valley, AZ; sisters, Mick (Donald) OConner of Ft. Dodge, IA, Margaret Leask of Battle Creek, MI, Luella Davis of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Helen Biedit of Waterloo, IA; nieces, nephews and other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 49 years, Alvira; son, Johnny Mammenga; twin brothers, Louis and Levi; sisters, Francis Brandma and Clara Garrett; brothers, William Mammenga and William Mammenga.