John R. Lamfers

     John was born to John & Bertha Lamfers of Ashton Iowa. The youngest of three children.

He attended country school than finished in Ashton public. Graduating in 1955 with perfect attendance all 12 years. He grew up working on the family farm dreaming of one day becoming a barber. He worked on the swathing crew and at the Ashton Tile plant while helping his parents on the farm. Tilling the home quarter from horse drawn days thru tractors.

     In 1957 he married the woman who he would love until the time of his death. Together they raised two sons and a daughter. He became a farmer, a steward of the land. In the early years he milked cows, farrowed hogs, and raised chickens. He was an active member of the NFO, and a Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Ashton. He worked hard to provide a life for his three children. During the farm crisis of the early 70’s he took on a full-time night job at Chase Bag in Sibley. But the crisis grew, and he made the decision to take his family to town leaving his beloved land for a time.

     In the following 20 plus years he worked construction, at a feed mill and a factory.

He purchased, renovated, and rented out many houses in the area. He took classes at NCC to better his skills to keep them in good repair for his tenants. All the while waiting for his chance to return to the land. In the mid 1980’s the opportunity to return came again. Unfortunately, in the mid 90’s health issues with his wife made the decision for him to leave the land for a time.

     In 1998 he traveled with his family to Des Moines to receive the Century Farm Certificate. He was so proud to hang that on his wall. In 2006 he returned home for the last time. He moved up      to a self-propelled combine when he bought one for himself for Christmas before his 66th birthday. He was now farming with the “big farmers”.

     In the last years he raised cattle, tilled the land, put up hay. The herd became smaller. Round bales were something he learned to adapt to.

In 2019 he hit a rough patch. He made the decision to have someone custom harvest that season   and leased out part of the land going forward. He kept a little for the oats and enjoyed mowing, raking, and square baling the grassland for the livestock.

     John was a farmer. He strived to be honest and fair with everyone. He tried to treat others like he wanted to be treated. He did his very best to tend the land that the good Lord allowed him to  care for and felt blessed for the opportunity. He loved his kid, felt blessed by his grandchildren and was fascinated by his great grandchildren.  They were such a blessing to him.

     He was a member of the Ashton Bible Church and considered them to be his extended family. He was a member of the Senior Saints and looked forward to their get togethers. He enjoyed the men’s breakfast and the fellowship. He liked baseball, especially the Minnesota Twins. He liked            the Kansas City Royals almost as much. He was a quiet man, some thought too reserved. He loved to joke and tell stories from the past.

     Left to cherish his memory: Terri Meyer (Gene), Timothy Lamfers

11 Grandchildren; 30 Great grandchildren; and 3 Great-Great grandchildren

Gone before him: Sons, Curtis and Ricky Lamfers; Brother Bernie & Sister-in-law Henrietta Lamfers; Sister Bertha & Brother in-law Ralph Roelfs.

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