John Henry Sherwood
Born: March 5th, 1920
Died: February 24th, 2010
Obituary
John Henry "Hank" Sherwood, 89, of Burlington, died at 7:02 a.m. Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at Great River Hospice House, West Burlington, IA. One of 13 siblings, he was born March 5, 1920, on the farm homestead in Denmark, IA, the son of John Daniel and Addie Belle Seager Sherwood. On May 1, 1947, he married Marie Wolverton in Burlington, IA. She died on December 12, 2005. Hank was a World War II veteran, serving with the Army Scorpion Unit in France, Italy, and Germany as a Tank Retrieval Expert. He worked at Sheaffer Pen, Burlington Northern Railroad, and retired from IAAP in 1982. He then began a second career working at Jim's Lock & Safe until his full retirement in 2003. He was a member of Plumbers Union #125. He loved to repair things, and was known to his many friends and co-workers as "Hammer Hank". He enjoyed playing cards and winning. He participated in area antique gas engine shows, and was a regular at the Old Thrashers Reunion exhibiting his old engines. The neighborhood kids knew Hank as the man who kept their bike tires inflated. He also kept their parents' mowers running. Hank will always be remembered for his big smile. The most important thing to him was his family, wife, children, and grandchildren. He was a member and longtime usher at SS Mary & Patrick Catholic Church. Survivors include one son, Bill (Lana) Sherwood of West Burlington; two daughters, Jean (David) Ballinger and Linda (Dana) Pogemiller, both of Burlington; seven grand- children, Jeff (Nicole) Sherwood of Denver, CO, Jim (Alicia) Sherwood of West Burlington, Anne (Paul) Wilson of Iowa City, Susan Ballinger of Swisher, IA, Steven Ballinger of El Paso, TX, Zach (Valerie Sass, fiancé) Pogemiller of Olatha, KS, and Joel Pogemiller of Burlington; eight great-grandchildren, Colton Sherwood, Merissa Sherwood, Baby Isabelle Sherwood to join our family in April, Elizabeth Wilson, Caecilia Wilson, Katherine Wilson, Kaitlyn Meierotto, and Isaac Ballinger; three sisters, Eva Stansbury of Boone, IA, Grace Andrews of Peoria, IL, and Amanda Moore of Donnellson, IA; dozens and dozens of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; four brothers, Joseph, Daniel, Charles Arthur, and Francis; and five sisters, Regina, Barbara, Marie, Cecilia, and Rosella. Friends may call on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Prugh's Chapel. A Christian Wake Service will be held on Sunday at 3:00 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. in Prugh's Chapel, with the family receiving friends until 5:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial for John Henry "Hank" Sherwood will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 1, 2010, at SS. Mary & Patrick Catholic Church, West Burlington, IA. The Very Rev. David Steinle will be the Celebrant. Military rites will be conducted by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard. Music will be provided by the Des Moines Co. Resurrection Choir. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. A memorial has been established in his memory.