Obituary of John F. McConeghey

John F. McConeghey, the son of John Alexander and Pauline Chrisman McConeghey, was born January 21, 1923 in Bosco, Louisiana. John was a lifelong resident of the Newton area. He graduated from the Newton High School with the class of 1941. John served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a staff sergeant in the 25th Infantry Division earning a bronze star and purple heart. On August 11, 1946, John was united in marriage with Bonnie Hill at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. John worked at Horn Shoe Store in Newton prior to joining the Newton Manufacturing Company in Newton. He worked there for 28 years, retiring as Senior Vice President. John was a past member of the Jaycees, Friends of the Library, Chamber of Commerce, Community Chest, Jasper County Historical Society, Newton Community School Board, and the Park Centre Residents Association. John was the Jaycees Outstanding Young Man Award in 1954, received the Newton Community Service Award in 1989, served on the Newton Manufacturing board from 1959 - 1992, director Emeritus till present, and the Mid Iowa FSB. John died Monday, April 12, 2010, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines from complications of a fall in his home. He was 87 years old. John was preceded in death by his parents; his uncle and aunt who raised him, Karl B. and Mattie McConeghey Gibford; their children, Marie Gibford Main and Karl B. Gibford, Jr.; and his wife, Bonnie on March 10, 1995. Those left to honor John's memory include his sons, Mike McConeghey of Fairfield, Iowa and Dave McConeghey of Wichita, Kansas; his daughter, Nancy Leahy of Fairfield, Iowa; his brother, Bill McConeghey of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; his sister, Marnie Veghte of Chicago, Illinois; his eight grandchildren; his eight great grandchildren and his loving companion, Roberta Jones of Newton.