John “Jack” Elliott, age 99, of Marquette ,IA, passed away peacefully at home on May 28, 2023.
Jack was born on the family farm outside of Blue River, WI on June 4, 1923, the son of Corliss and Elsie Elliott. He graduated from Blue River High School and enlisted in the Navy in 1942. He completed his training in Idaho, and was sent to Long Beach, CA, where he was assigned to the battleship USS California, as an anti – aircraft gunner and was involved in several major battles in the ”South Pacific Theater”. Home on leave when his ship was under repair, he reacquainted himself with “that girl from the other grade school’s softball team”, Pat. After his discharge from the Navy, he married Iretta “Pat” Clark on his birthday, June 4, 1947. Together they had 4 children, John, Steven, Monica “Teaka”, and Julie.
After the war, Jack worked for his brother Clyde at his welding shop in Richland Center, WI where he learned the welding trade that would guide his career. He went on to get his welding license from the La Crosse Vocational School and later worked for Turner Construction in Boscobel for over 20 years. After the business folded, Jack and Pat bought the Gambles Hardware store in Columbus, WI and owned it for four years. The family lived in Portage, WI, before moving to Marquette, IA, in 1971, where Jack was a welding foreman at Bituma-Stor for 40 years. He never wanted to retire so he went to work for Moody’s Trucking in various capacities before finally retiring at the age of 89.
Jack was a lifelong American Legion member and former Commander for the local Marquette Post 305.
He loved fishing and always came home with a story. He enjoyed his bowling and was also quite the card shark. He was a true Green & Gold Packers fan and cheered on the Brewers, but he ditched the Badgers for the Hawkeyes. He has had many furry best friends over the years and each one was his favorite.
Jack is survived by his wife Iretta “Pat” Clark Elliott and son Steven L. (Donna) Elliott of Portage, WI; son-in-law Jon Ayers of McGregor, IA and daughter-in-law Aura Elliott of Hedgesville, WV; 9 grandchildren: Korey (Anja) Ayers, Abby (Todd Wilhelm) Ayers-Martin, Steven J. (Lisa Bowers) Elliott, Jamie Elliott, Randy (Trina) Elliott, Aaron (Abby) Elliott, Jessica (Nathan) Hess, Dana (Paul) Gordon, and Dacia (Kory) Warrington; 23 great- grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents Corliss and Elsie; 5 siblings, Clyde, Lloyd, Bubby, Gerald, and Hazel; his children John Eldon Elliott, Monica “Teaka” Ayers, and Julie Abildtrup and his son-in-law, Mark Abildtrup.
Memorial Service with Military Rites will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home, McGregor, Iowa with Pastor Bruce Hanson as the Officiant.
Burial will be at a later date at Boscobel Cemetery, Boscobel, Wisconsin.
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of McGregor, Iowa is assisting the family with services.