John Mcmahon

John Daniel McMahon was born on October 17, 1953, to Richard and Marjorie McMahon. He met his wife Beverly at Corning High School where they both graduated in 1971. They moved for a short time to Ames and then Iowa City where he received his pharmaceutical degree from the University of Iowa. They returned to Corning to carry on the family business with his father at McMahon Drug Store. Recently John was proud to put up a new sign at the back of the store reading “In business since 1961”. In 1974, John and Beverly were united in marriage at the Carl Methodist Church in Carl, Iowa, where Beverly was raised.
John was deeply committed to the economic development of Corning and Adams County. He was involved in many organizations in different leadership capacities for over 20 years. Most notable were his roles in the Chamber of Commerce and the Adams County Economic Development Corporation (ACED). In 1984 John was president of the Chamber, 20 years after his father was president in 1964. He was a charter member of the Corning Ambassadors and participated in many trips to the State House to advocate for Southwest Iowa. In 1991 he was recognized by the Governor as a volunteer for economic development.
John has been on the board of ACED since 1988, serving in the past as President and Secretary. When Iowa first started a Main Street program, he and two others challenged them to expand into rural communities. Twenty years later there are Main Street programs in small towns not only in Iowa but across the country. Always interested in new technologies, John helped lead the effort to bring Internet access to Corning and could be found building computers for community organizations in his free time. He served on the board of the Southwest Iowa Coalition who awarded him the Austin B. Turner III Leadership Award in 2009. John also served on the board for Southwest Community College. John followed in the footsteps of his father as an active member of Rotary. Last week he was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.
John was an integral member of the medical community in Corning. Throughout his prime he increased store hours and never turned down a house call for someone who needed a prescription late at night or during a holiday meal with his family. In addition to operating McMahon Drug, he served as the hospital pharmacist for two decades. John was also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder on the Session and was involved in a number of church committees. It was in this church that John and Beverly raised their two children, Wesley and Maggie.
John enjoyed good food, most often created by his wife Beverly and a group of friends that met most Friday nights. In recent years he and Beverly were able travel abroad and developed a passion for experiencing new places and new wines together. He loved good cars and could be seen riding to and from the drug store in style. At home, John enjoyed good music and movies with Beverly on the latest home theater technology.
John is survived by his wife, Beverly McMahon of Corning, Iowa; son, Wesley (Emily) McMahon of Raleigh, North Carolina; daughter, Maggie (John) Jones of Corning, Iowa; grandchildren: John Paul Jones and Casey Michael Jones both of Corning, Iowa; mother, Marjorie McMahon of Corning, Iowa; sisters: Kathleen (Roger) Rickels and Mollie (Mike) Mullin; brother, Richard (Linda) McMahon Jr.
John was preceded in death by his father, Richard Francis McMahon.
John passed away quietly at his home on January 9, 2010, after returning from the Chamber of Commerce Banquet where he was recognized as Volunteer of the Year. John leaves us with a notable love for his family and hope for Corning-where “our best days are still ahead.”