John C. Empen

John C. Empen, age 97, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 11. Funeral Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Preston, IA. Visitation will be from noon until the Mass at the church. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. No luncheon will be served. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association .

John Empen was born on January 11, 1929, to Walter and Caroline Empen on a farm near Browns, Iowa. He grew up during the Great Depression, helping with farm work from a young age and attending country schools near Miles, Elvira, and Preston, Iowa. His childhood was marked by both hard work and family hardships, including the loss of several siblings.

As a teenager, John worked extensively on the family farm and graduated from Preston High School in 1948. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He served from 1950 to 1953, including duty in Germany, and often wrote letters home to Anne Mary Glascott, whom he had met through his sister Marie.

John and Anne were married on February 6, 1954, at St. Dennis Church in Chicago, Illinois. Together they built a life centered on faith, family, and farming. John farmed for over 40 years in the Preston area, working alongside family members and steadily expanding the family farm.

John and Anne were blessed with five children: Cathy (Russell) Stringfellow, Peggy (Randy) Morphis, John (Barbara) Empen, Joe (Becky) Empen, and Bill (Julie) Empen. They shared many years together raising their family and creating a home filled with love, hard work, and lasting memories.

After retiring from farming in 1994, John continued working part-time, selling seed corn and assisting at the local quarry. In 2006, John and Anne moved from the family farm into Preston.

John will be remembered for his strong work ethic, devotion to family, quiet determination, and deep roots in the farming community.

He is survived by his five children, 16 grandchildren, and 21 great-grandchildren, & 6 great great grandkids who carry forward his legacy of faith, perseverance, and love of family.

John was preceded in death by his beloved wife Anne, his parents Walter and Caroline Empen, several siblings, and grandson Bradley James Empen.

May his memory be a blessing to all who knew and loved him.