John Everett Tesene

John Everett Tesene, 92, Manly, Iowa, died Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012 at the Manly Nursing & Rehab Center.  A funeral mass for John was held Friday, Sept. 28, 2012 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manly, with Reverend John Gossman officiating.  Burial was in the Clear Lake Cemetery with military graveside honors conducted by members of the Edward Tosel American Legion Post #110 of Manly.  

John Everett Tesene was born on Sept. 2, 1920 on a farm in Clear Lake, Iowa, the son of Roy and Mabel (Everett) Tesene.  While John was an infant, his father was struck by lightning and killed while he was baling hay.  John graduated from Mason City High School in 1939, and worked on an uncle’s farm in Manly until he enlisted in the Navy on Dec. 15, 1942.  John was stationed in Boston, Mass., and Melville, R.I., for Motor Torpedo Boat training.  While in Boston, he met his future wife, Barbara Stevens, on a blind date.  John spent three-and-one half years on a Torpedo Boat, Squadron 5, in the South Pacific.  While on leave, he married Barbara on May 13, 1945 at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake.  

After his honorable discharge on Oct. 12, 1945, John farmed for 11 years in the Manly and Mason City area.  In April 1958, John went to work at the Farmers Coop in Manly were he worked for 27 years until his retirement on Dec. 31, 1985.  John also enjoyed helping Dennis, his son-in-law, work in the fields during harvest.

John was a loving husband, father, and grandfather and enjoyed family time spent with all his family.  John enjoyed playing cards, watching auto races on TV, reading, traveling, and camping.  John and Barbara spent 16 years wintering in Alamo, Texas.

John was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manly, charter member of the Manly Lions Club, a member of the Edward Tosel American Legion Post #110 of Manly, was on the RSVP advisory board for six years, and was former president of the Manly Senior Center.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Barbara, of 67 years; his children, Steve (Pat) Tesene of Clive, Patricia (Gene) Bryant of St. Charles, Mo., Roy (Connie) Tesene of Garner, Iowa, Kathy (Dennis) Kruger of Manly, and Deb (Perley) Holloway of Mason City, Iowa; 18 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Betty Jacobson of Clear Lake, Beverly (Tom) Burnett of Northfield, Minn.; his brothers, Bob (Lea) Roberts of Ridgeway, Colo., and David (Karen) Roberts of Falls Church, Va.; sister-in-law, Florence Cusick of Gloucester, Mass.; as well as many nieces and nephews, and many other extended family members and friends.  

John was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Mabel Tesene (Roberts); and a grandson, Scott Christeson.  

Bride Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.