John Irving Ballensky

John Irving Ballensky
December 14, 1929 - November 24, 2006
Sigourney, Iowa
Visitation: 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. November 26, 2006 at Sigourney United Methodist Church
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. November 27, 2007 at Sigourney United Methodist Church
Interment: November 27, 2006 at Pennington Cemetery
SIGOURNEY-John Irving Ballensky, age 76, of Sigourney, died Friday, November 24, 2006, at his home, after an extended illness. John was born on December 14, 1929, in Sigourney, to Rev. John G. and Estella (Vittetoe) Ballensky. He graduated from Sigourney High School in 1947 and from Drake University in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy, where he was a member of Phi Delta Chi, a pharmacy fraternity. On September 3, 1950, he married Mary Louise Bottorff, his high school sweetheart, and practiced pharmacy in Oskaloosa until 1954, when he returned to Sigourney and bought the Corner Drug Store from Frederick Jugenheimer. John continued in the business until his retirement in 1998. He served in the United States Air National Guard during the Korean War. He was a licensed Iowa pharmacist and was a member of the Iowa Pharmacy Association, 50-year member of the American Legion, 3rd Degree Mason in Webb Lodge # 182 and the First United Methodist Church in Sigourney, where he served on many committees, including trustee, and enjoyed singing for the glory of God. He also served as member and president of the Sigourney School Board, Sigourney City Council, Mayor and board of directors of Keokuk County State Bank. He was appointed to the Iowa State Board of Health by Governor Robert Ray and was awarded the Pharmacy Association's Bowl of Hygeia Award in 2005 in recognition of his lifetime contributions to community service. John was always proud of his family and the City of Sigourney and, except for two years, was a lifetime resident of Sigourney. Survivors include his wife: Mary Lou of Sigourney; four children: Natalie (Terry) Dunn of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Katherine Ballensky of Cedar Rapids, John Andrew (Kathleen) Ballensky of Sigourney and Jill (Curtis) Sande of Powell, Wyoming; four grandsons and four granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister: Mary Catherine Hradek. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 27, 2006, at the Sigourney United Methodist Church, with Rev. John Hembry officiating. Burial will be at Pennington Cemetery south of Sigourney, with military honors by American Legion Post # 19 and Lacey Kerr V.F.W. Post # 2308. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 26, 2006, at the Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel, where there will be a masonic service at 3:00 p.m., and from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 26, 2006, at the church. A memorial fund has been established for the Sigourney United Methodist Church or Hospice of Keokuk County. Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service in Sigourney is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be e-mailed at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.