Jack Gadberry

Jack Gadberry, 86, of Greenfield, Iowa, formerly of Corning, passed away Saturday, December 16, 2023, at Greenfield Manor, Greenfield, Iowa.  Funeral Services will be 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at Pearson Family Funeral Service & Cremation Center, 701 7^th Street, Corning, Iowa, with Rev. Melinda Stonebraker officiating.  Burial will be at 2:30 P.M., Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at the St. Clair Cemetery, Ute, Iowa.  Open visitation will be 9:00 – 10:30 A.M., with family receiving friends 9:00 – 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, December 20, 2023, at the funeral home, prior to the service.  Memorials may be directed to the Jack Gadberry Memorial Fund, to be established by the family.  Memories and condolences may be left on-line at www.pearsonfuenralhomes.com.

Jack Elmer Gadberry, the son of Douglas and Gail (McCullough) Gadberry, was born December 13, 1937, in Harris, Missouri. Jack attended elementary through high school, all in the same building, in Galt, Missouri.  He graduated, at the age of 17, in May 1955.  He earned a basketball scholarship.  Jack rented a bedroom for five dollars a week.  He was seventeen and couldn’t get a job, so he dropped out of college.  At the age of eighteen, he went to work at a canning factory. 

Jack’s high school sweetheart, Donna Maxine Covey, graduated from high school and the two of them married in 1956, in Trenton, Missouri.  Son Greg Alan Gadberry was born May 14, 1961.  Jack and Donna moved around to numerous cities, including: Rock Island, Illinois, Wichita, Kansas, Sapulpa, Oklahoma, Corning, Iowa, and Webster City, Iowa looking for jobs.  They later divorced and Jack moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he managed a pet store. 

In 1971, he met Peg Marn through a mutual friend.  They would later marry on January 8, 1972.  Peg brought five children to the union.  Jack and Peg would move from Omaha to Corning shortly after their marriage.  They purchased the local hardware store from Franny Mack, and they would own it for 40 years.

Jack and Peg loved to spend time with friends and family.  They also always had a houseful of people.  Jack and Peg were blessed with many grandchildren.  They enjoyed their visits to the house.  They also loved to travel, camping and spending winters in Arizona.  Their life was rich with laughter and love.  Peg would pass before Jack in December 2012.  Jack would later meet Sharon Daut.  The two spent ten years together in Greenfield, Iowa.

Jack served on the Corning Volunteer Fire Department, was a Mason and an active member of the Shrine Club.  Jack never knew a stranger.  He met many people over the years and treasured their friendships.  Jack will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Left to cherish Jack’s memory are his children: Claire Jean “CJ” Peterson of Corning, Iowa, Konnie Douglas of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Randy (Linda) Marn of Corning, Iowa, Greg (Teresa) Gadberry of Zelienople, Pennsylvania, Kim (Andy) Lundquist of Corning, Iowa; Jack’s friend, Sharon Daut of Greenfield, Iowa; sister-in-law, Ann Gadberry of Chillicothe, Missouri; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Preceding Jack in death were his parents; wife, Peg Gadberry; son, Larry Marn; grandsons: Chad Douglas and Stephen Sparks;  brothers: J.D., Bob and Harry Gadberry; sister Margaret Wilford.