JOHN LETSCHE, 80, of rural Cherokee, Iowa passed away Thursday, August 28, 2008 at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa, following heart by-pass surgery, after suffering a heart attack on the previous Saturday.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 2nd, at 10:30 a.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Rev. Ethan Sayler will officiate and burial will be in the Afton Township Cemetery at rural Cherokee, Iowa. There will be military rites at the graveside by Sutherland American Legion Post #512. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the funeral home on Tuesday. Visitation will be on Monday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.

John was born on February 7, 1928 at Cherokee, Iowa to Gotthilf and Stella (Stemmerman) Letsche. He graduated from Aurelia High School in 1946. He then worked for the Kluge Block Plant in Cherokee for 4 years before entering the U.S Army in November of 1950 to serve his country during the Korean War. After being honorably discharged in October of 1952, he worked at the Thule Air Force Base in Greenland, also worked various construction projects and since then has farmed the family farm in Afton Township. He was a 50 year member and past commander of the Sutherland American Legion Post #512; a life member of L.A. Wescott Post #2253 of the V.F.W. in Cherokee. He also enjoyed going to auctions, polka dancing, having coffee and visiting with his friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers Elmer in 1988 and Duane in 1998.

He is survived by one brother Lyle Letsche and his wife Lorene of Cherokee, Iowa; a special friend Barbara Templeman of Cherokee, Iowa; two nephews: Dr. Terry Letsche and his wife Paula and their boys Matthias and Christoph of Waverly, Iowa; Todd Letsche and his wife Nicole and their daughter Allison of Maple Grove, Minnesota; a sister-in-law June Letsche of Missouri.