After successful sales careers in several businesses, John found his true calling when he was introduced to the death care profession as a casket salesman for Aurora Casket in 2004. John quickly became recognized by western Iowa funeral homes for his unparalleled friendly service and consultation skills.

On the job, he soon understood the importance of the funeral director’s role, and the value of learning what a family has been through to help them plan a goodbye that embraces their traditions and honors their loved one.

John says, “Some of my best friends are the best in the business. As I worked with them, I encountered more questions about how to direct funerals, so I finally decided to become a licensed funeral director myself in 2015.”

He received his mortuary science degree while on the Dean’s list at DMACC’s mortuary school. John is a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association (IFDA), Monument Builders of North America (MBNA), is on the Board of Directors for Funeral Services of Iowa (FSI), Board of Directors and treasurer of the National Concrete Burial Vault Association (NCBVA), and is secretary of the Little Al Foundation, whose mission is to help cover expenses for families who must travel for their child’s medical care.

Taking his service to clients a step further, in 2019 John purchased Watts Vault and Monument in Montezuma, Des Moines, Chariton, and Iowa City. He now assists families in choosing meaningful personal monuments that serve as lasting tributes to their loved ones. He enjoys meeting people and loves helping turn their ideas for memorialization into beautiful and creative monuments. John is deeply empathetic when he works with a family. His goal is to listen to their stories, so he understands how to best help them.

Born and raised in Marathon, Iowa, the youngest and only boy in a family of four children, John has lived in Iowa his entire life. He graduated from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, where he met his wife, Lisa. After living in Carroll where Lisa was an elementary teacher, they relocated to Ames when she became a professor at Iowa State University. Go Cyclones! And oh ok, Go Hawkeyes, too.

John spends his time away from work traveling, attending sports events, golfing, enjoying his family’s lake home, and hanging out with his sisters and their families.

John’s proudest accomplishments are his children, Josie and Taylor, and his extended family. That family also includes the funeral homes he works with and his employees.