John Arthur Erdman, 79, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2024, at Spencer Hospital in Spencer, Iowa.
The family invites you to join them for a Memorial Mass of Christian Burial that will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 28, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford. A rosary service will be recited at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church with a visitation to follow till 6:00 p.m. on Thursday at the church. Burial will be held in the Calvary Cemetery in Milford. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com
John was born on Nov. 5, 1944, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, to Arthur Edward and Helen Lenora (Wood) Erdman. John had 3 older half siblings, Harvey, Josephine, and Ethel; a younger brother, Francis, and a sister, Mary.
John attended Spencer High School. He went on to serve in the National Guard where he received his GED. He was united in marriage to Jan Laurie Fliss on Nov. 12, 1969. For more than half his life he called Fostoria, Iowa, his home. John enjoyed working and he worked hard to provide for his family as best he could. He worked as a semi-truck driver for many years, the bulk of which were spent working for Morton Buildings from 1986 until his retirement in 2009. He and Jan raised their 6 children together and would come just one month shy of celebrating 40 years of marriage before Jan passed away also in 2009.
John enjoyed cars and motorcycles, particularly Fords and Harleys. Together, he and his son restored a 1950 Mercury that John would go on to drive in local parades. John enjoyed spending time with others—family, friends, and neighbors—talking with them, telling stories and jokes, laughing together. He enjoyed coffee with his buddies, playing practical jokes, helping friends on their farms, visiting his children and grandchildren, going on tractor rides, attending country music concerts, and traveling with his wife, Jan. After Jan’s passing, John continued to travel and enjoyed working part-time for the Ford dealership delivering vehicles. On all his travels, he enjoyed showing off some of the Morton Buildings he had delivered over the years with whomever he was traveling with.
John is survived by 3 of his 4 sons, Jim Erdman, Robbie Erdman, and Tom Erdman (Kyrna); his 3 daughters, Deanna Jacobsen (Jeff), Frances Andersen (Lonnie Foreman), and Jenny Erdman (Brett Bagby); daughters-in-law, Janet Erdman and Tisch Erdman; son-in-law, Ryan Coffman; grandchildren, Josh Erdman (Bergen), Jamie Erdman, Julia Bucio Olivares (William), Jade Cade (Vale), Jenna Erdman, Jason Erdman, Jessica Klebba, Colby Erdman, Lucas Erdman, Dustin West, Jakeob Erdman, Justin Jacobsen, T.J. Jacobsen (Cassie), Dalton Jacobsen, Allen Coffman, Morraine Erdman, Winnie Erdman; 22 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; his sister, Mary Hamrick (Art) and their 2 daughters, Renee and Sam; his brother-in-law, Jim Fliss (Peggy) and their 4 children, Jeff, Justin, Molly, and Maggie; and many extended family members, friends, and neighbors.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Helen Erdman; his wife, Jan Erdman; his brother, Francis Erdman; his 3 half siblings, Harvey Lowry, Josephine Halbur, and Ethel Wilson; his son, John Erdman; his granddaughter, Brittany Andersen; and his niece, Stacie Hamrick.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
