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Jackie Dean Cory

January 3, 1941 October 26, 2024
Jackie Dean Cory
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Obituary for Jackie Dean Cory

Jack D. Cory, age 83, of Smithland, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Burgess Health Center of Onawa, Iowa.


A Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 16, 2024, at the Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa. Committal services with Military Honors will follow in the Little Sioux Township Cemetery of Smithland, Iowa. 


The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.armstrongfuneral.com.


Jackie "Jack" Dean Cory passed away on October 26, 2024, in Onawa, Iowa. Born to Relton Lorenzo and Gertrude Edna Kelsey Cory on January 3, 1941, in Missouri Valley, Iowa, Jack was the fourth of five children. Jack’s dad had five children from a previous marriage so Jack was born with an additional five older siblings and friends.


His family moved a lot when Jack was a child. In addition to Smithland, Iowa, he lived in Washington, South Dakota, and Minnesota and eventually came back to Smithland. Jack’s father passed away when he was nine years old. Jack told stories about getting in fist fights in his childhood as his father wasn't there to guide him and help get him out of the scrapes he would get himself into.


Jack graduated from Smithland High School in 1959 and entered into the United States Army on February 24, 1960, serving in Germany until 1963. He served in the Army Reserves until 1966. He returned home at the beginning of the Vietnam conflict and went to Alaska in 1964, the day after the Great Alaska Earthquake, to visit his Army buddy Van Swett. He worked in Alaska with Van for the railroad operating cranes and large equipment, redoing tracks, and making earthquake repairs. While there he met and married Kathyrn Gene Webb, Van’s niece. Their daughter Amber Corinne was born while they lived in Palmer where Jack worked as a carpenter and did construction. They moved to Boise, Idaho for a time where Jack did backhoe and crane construction work. After Jack and Kathy divorced, he returned to Smithland and worked for Klinger Construction running backhoes and large equipment. He lived near his mother and helped look after her.


On August 3, 1984, Jack married Linda (Kluver) Grandis, and welcomed her two children from a previous marriage, Kristi and Joe Grandis, into the family. Jack and Linda lived in Smithland until recently. They loved to fish together, go for drives and were animal lovers, caring for many dogs and cats over the years.


If the water was wet, Jack loved to fish. He would go fishing anywhere for any type of fish: bullheads, blue gills, catfish, crappie, and bass. Jack loved to repair and build. He was always working on a project and knew how to repair just about everything. He liked to go hunting and talk with his family and friends. Jack had meaningful friendships with his nephew Duane and his family. They liked to go fishing together on the Missouri River. He loved to spend time with his great friend Don Larsen. They would gather wood and roadkill and talk about everything. Jack always had a sparkle in his eye and something funny to say or to tease with. He was quick to respond with humorous quips.


Jack is survived by his wife Linda; children Amber Corinne Droesbeke (Richard), Kristi Hayes and Joe Grandis (Anahita); nine grandchildren Audrey EmoGene Snow Page, Willard Larkin Snow, Charles Dalton Snow, Brandon Snow, Maya Grandis, Samantha Lerma, Brecken Hayes, Caden Hayes, Logan Christianson; three great grandchildren Ryan, Eve and Kate Page and a baby brother coming in January 2025; loving nephew Duane (Tammie) Cory; sister Darlene Britton; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.


Jack is preceded in death by his beloved parents Relton Lorenzo and Gertrude Cory; siblings Joan Rono, James Cory, Janet Ronfeldt, Jerry Cory, Duane Relton Cory, Elaine Cory, Bernard Dean Cory, Jean Marie Smith and Robert Royce Cory.


A happy reunion is taking place in heaven with his family!


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Previous Events

Memorial Service

Saturday

16

Nov

10:00 AM 11/16/2024 10:00:00 AM
Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home - Mapleton

210 South 5th Street
Mapleton, IA 51034

Armstrong - Van Houten Funeral Home - Mapleton
210 South 5th Street Mapleton 51034 IA
United States

Cemetery Details

Location

Little Sioux Township Cemetery Final Resting Place

Smithland, IA 51056

Smithland 51056 IA
United States
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