John Weppler

John Weppler, 88, of Atlantic, Iowa, and formerly of rural Lewis died Friday, February 14, 2025, Heritage House in Atlantic.

John Clifford was born on June 27, 1936, in Atlantic, Iowa, the son of Ira Casper and Nora May (Carroll) Weppler. He grew up in Lewis, where he attended school and played for the basketball team. John graduated from Lewis High School in the Class of 1954. While in high school and after graduation he worked for Zell Cook as a Mason Tender. In 1957, he entered the United States Army and received his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and at Fort McClellan in Alabama attended Chemical Corps Advanced Initial Training. Following his honorable discharge, John served 10 years in the Army Reserves. 

Many nights were spent at the local skating rink and this is where he met Marcella Jane Martens. The couple married on March 8, 1958, at the St. John’s United Church of Christ, south of Lyman and made their home east of Lewis. John and Marcella were blessed with five children, Vickie, Susan, Julie, Kenneth, and Kirk. Throughout the years the couple enjoyed riding their motorcycle and getting together with their neighborhood card club. They traveled to various places, including Niagara Falls, Hawaii, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and also to visit family in Reno, Nevada and Topeka, Kansas. Marcella passed away in August of 2000 and John married Roberta (Slocum) Brown in 2003 in Reno, Nevada.

John farmed his entire life and also did custom farming for others. He also had cattle and hogs, sold Hubbard Feed and Asgrow Seed and operated J Weppler sales selling anhydrous ammonia and various farm equipment. He loved to be in the field on his tractor and watching cows with their calves. He retired in September of 1999. 

He was gracious with his time and resources to the Atlantic Community Schools and was instrumental in the building of the AHS Softball Field. John enjoyed going to farm shows, and hunting deer, coyotes and pheasants. He was a “Red Tractor” guy and had a large collection of various types of International tractors. 

John is survived by his daughters, Vickie (Dale) Retallic of Atlantic, Susan (Norm) Hoeck of Atlantic and Julie (Craig) Gussow of Allen, Texas; sons, Kenneth (Heather Link) Weppler of Lewis and Kirk (Suzan) Weppler of Portland, Oregon; 6 grandchildren, Justin and Troy (Laura) Retallic, Jordan (Rachel), Sydney and Becca Weppler and Jennifer Gussow; 4 great-grandchildren, David, Sophia, Colton and Ethan Retallic; and sister, Barbara (Dick) Kunze of Atlantic; sister-in-law, Judy Martens of Lewis, Iowa; and nieces and nephews. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Nora Weppler; parents-in-law, Roy and Irene Martens; first wife, Marcella Weppler; second wife, Roberta (Brown) Weppler; brothers-in-law, Roger Martens and in infancy, Richard Martens.

Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, February 27th at Roland Funeral Home in Atlantic. 

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, February 28th at the Lewis United Congregational Methodist Church. Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis, with military honors by the Atlantic Color Guard. Following the burial lunch will be served in the church fellowship hall.

Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation to the Lewis United Congregational Methodist Church, the Lewis Fire Department and the Lewis Community Center.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for John’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.