Jack Duane Halverson

July 27, 1931 — November 13, 2018

Jack passed on Nov 13, 2018 at Theda Care Medical Center, Waupaca to be with his Lord and Savior. Jack was 87 and born on July 27, 1931 in Rosholt, Wisconsin to Thoralf and Agnes (Carlson) Halverson. At the age of 10, the family moved to Iola, Wisconsin where he completed his schooling, graduating from the Iola high school in 1949. He was confirmed and continued to be a member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Iola.

On September 6, 1950, he joined the army serving during the Korean War having basic training at Fort Riley, Kansas and Fort Benning, Georgia for advanced combat training. He was stationed in Germany as occupation forces, earning the rank of Corporal and squad leader in the 22 ^nd infantry, 4 ^th division. While there he furloughed to Oslo, Norway to visit his 5 aunts and cousins whom he’d never met. While there, he and his cousins attended the winter Olympics in Oslo. He was honorably discharged on June 26, 1952. He was then employed with Wisconsin Central airlines as a Stewart and as a ticket agent at the Madison Truax Field airport.

On October 25, 1952, he married his high school sweetheart Ruth Lastofka. The couple lived in Madison for 1 ½ years then moving to Iola to join in partnership with his father-in-law B.F. Lastofka and brother-in-law, David Lastofka with the Wau-Wis Mink Ranch. To their union, they had 4 children, Dan Wayne, Scott Jon, Terry Jack and Tina Marie. After selling the fur business in 1970, the family moved to the village of Iola where they remained. Jack was employed at the King Veterans Home as an orderly and later at the Iola IGA as meat cutter. He was last employed at the WI Central Electric Co-op where he retired after 16 ½ years in March of 1993.

Jack’s love of flying was instrumental in him taking flying lessons, receiving his pilot’s license and owning his own airplane. He also had a passion for golfing and hunting. The camaraderie with a group of guys naming themselves the Medicare group at Crystals Café for coffee and cookies was something he looked forward to every morning. He always looked forward to talking with his cousin Don Halverson on Skype every morning and speaking their Norwegian, trying to stump the wives so they didn’t understand the conversation. He belonged to a “guy” birthday club. He was also an EMT with the Iola Rescue Squad and a member of the Iola Fire Department for over 10 years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 14. He also was the first recipient of a plaque given for “Appreciation Award” from the Iola-Scandinavia Jaycees in 1977. He was a very personable man and enjoyed talking and visiting with people and keeping up his Norwegian language with some of the norskie’s in town. He was proud of his Norwegian heritage as his father came to the US from Oslo, Norway at the age of 16. He enjoyed playing his trumpet sitting on the back porch entertaining the neighbors every evening and playing with the Iola High School band. Also playing “taps” for many military funerals, which he felt was an honor to the veterans. He was very honored to be in a group of veterans that went on the WWII and Korean Honor Flight to view the memorials at Washington D.C on August 5, 2013. He was accompanied by his son Terry and he felt that this was a most memorable experience for years to come.

He leaves his wife Ruth, sons Dan Halverson, Terry of Waupaca and daughter Tina Steinbach of Oshkosh and also 4 grandchildren. Teresa Halverson, Jen Halverson, Jacob and Logan Steinbach. Also two great granddaughters, Kaydence Ann Johnson and Mackenzie Rae Morrison. Brother in-law and sister-in-law David and Irene Lastofka of Iola, brother in-law Robert Lastofka of Kalispell, Montana - nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his son Scott, parents Agnes and Thoralf Halverson, sister Hjordis and brother-in-law Gary Hannemann of Appleton, mother and father-in-law, Ben and Bertina Lastofka, sister-in-law, Mary Lou Lastofka of Kalispell, Montana and brother Eugene of Hastings, MN.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, November 23, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Iola and internment after cremation will be in Our Saviors Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends may call at the church 9:30 AM -11 AM prior to the service. Full Military rights will be performed at the church following the service with burial at a later date.

In the last 13 debilitating years of his life, he fought a rare cerebella illness that controls all motor skills which eventually took away his ability to walk. 9 years ago he became wheel chair bound. The family wants to thank the anonymous person for installing a chair lift for him at home to get to the car. What a wonderful gift to make it possible for him to get to appointments and outings! He struggled with health problems over the years and now death related to shortness of breath caused by COPD. (“RIP Jig-Saw”)

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Service Schedule

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Visitation

Friday, November 23, 2018

9:30 - 11:00 am (Central time)

Our Savior's Lutheran Church

395 East Iola Street, Iola, WI 54945

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