John Stirlen Slusher
April 30, 1944 — February 16, 2023
John Stirlen Slusher, 78, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A celebration of John’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Marion Methodist Church, located at 5050 Rec Drive in Marion. Pastor Mike Morgan will officiate. A private family inurnment will take place at Oak Shade Cemetery in Marion.
John was born on April 30, 1944, in Warrensburg, Missouri, the son of Francis Larkin and Kathryn (Stirlen) Slusher. After graduating from high school, he went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Missouri.
On December 13, 1969, John was united in marriage to Margaret (Peg) Jayne Stead in Marion. He worked as an accountant for 32 years at Rockwell Collins. Although accounting was John’s vocation, it also strongly influenced his extensive community service. He spent nearly four decades volunteering for AARP, preparing electronic tax returns for senior citizens and low-income families. He also volunteered as a SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) counselor providing health information and enrolling people in health plans. In 2012, John received the President’s Call to Service Award; and in 2012 and 2013, Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds honored John for his many contributions to the Cedar Rapids/Marion community and the state of Iowa.
John’s passion for volunteering extended into other organizations. He was a greeter at the Old Creamery Theatre in the Amana Colonies, and he served on the theatre’s Board of Directors. He also participated in the FLY program (Feeding Lunches to the Youth), which involved making lunches at the Marion Methodist Church during the summer months. These lunches were distributed to students throughout the Marion area. In addition, John volunteered at the Concierge Desk at PCI (Physicians Clinic of Iowa) in Cedar Rapids.
Together, John and Peg lived out their belief in higher education by providing scholarships to University of Iowa-bound students at Linn-Mar High School; accounting students at John’s alma mater, the University of Missouri; and softball catchers at the University of Iowa.
They were equally generous in their support of Camp Courageous in Monticello as they provided donations ranging from housekeeping essentials to office supplies, sports equipment, benches, and a medical ATV. In addition, they invested in the dorm, the musical park, and the multi-purpose field.
John loved nature, especially trees and flowers, and his passion was growing, exhibiting, and judging roses. He and Peg grew more than 250 varieties over the course of 50 years; and he received recognition for his service as a judge, Consulting Rosarian, Consulting Rosarian Emeritus, and Horticulture Judge Emeritus. He was also president of the Linn County Rose Society for many years.
Throughout their lives, John and Peg enjoyed reading, traveling, live theatre, movies and sports; and they enthusiastically supported and cheered for five University of Iowa teams in person: football, men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, and softball. Their love for Hawkeye softball led them to donate the Pearl Field scoreboard, which bears their names.
John had a bookmark with the following quotation by Edgar Allen, the founder of Easter Seals: “Your life and mine shall be valued not by what we take… but by what we give.” That was John! Those words exemplified the way he lived his life: investing his time, talents and resources in volunteering, helping people, and generously supporting worthy causes. He wanted to make a difference, and he did!
John will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years, Peg Slusher; brother-in-law, Dave (Cathy) Stead, Andover, Minnesota; sister-in-law, Kaytlin Stead (Patty Barber), Fletcher, North Carolina; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Stead, Orlando, Florida; nieces, Mindy (Heath) Blair, Phoenix, Arizona; Tracy Pearce, Shoreview, Minnesota; Kelly (Keith) Kroskie, Columbus, Ohio; and nephew, Ryan (Jessica) Stead, Orlando, Florida.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Paul Slusher and his wife Roseanne Slusher; nephew, Kyle Slusher; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Roddy and Vance Stead; brother-in-law, Tom Stead; and niece, Karyn Stead Kizina.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorial’s in John’s name be directed to Camp Courageous in Monticello, the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, or Marion Methodist Church.
Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting the family.
John was born on April 30, 1944, in Warrensburg, Missouri, the son of Francis Larkin and Kathryn (Stirlen) Slusher. After graduating from high school, he went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Missouri.
On December 13, 1969, John was united in marriage to Margaret (Peg) Jayne Stead in Marion. He worked as an accountant for 32 years at Rockwell Collins. Although accounting was John’s vocation, it also strongly influenced his extensive community service. He spent nearly four decades volunteering for AARP, preparing electronic tax returns for senior citizens and low-income families. He also volunteered as a SHIIP (Senior Health Insurance Information Program) counselor providing health information and enrolling people in health plans. In 2012, John received the President’s Call to Service Award; and in 2012 and 2013, Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds honored John for his many contributions to the Cedar Rapids/Marion community and the state of Iowa.
John’s passion for volunteering extended into other organizations. He was a greeter at the Old Creamery Theatre in the Amana Colonies, and he served on the theatre’s Board of Directors. He also participated in the FLY program (Feeding Lunches to the Youth), which involved making lunches at the Marion Methodist Church during the summer months. These lunches were distributed to students throughout the Marion area. In addition, John volunteered at the Concierge Desk at PCI (Physicians Clinic of Iowa) in Cedar Rapids.
Together, John and Peg lived out their belief in higher education by providing scholarships to University of Iowa-bound students at Linn-Mar High School; accounting students at John’s alma mater, the University of Missouri; and softball catchers at the University of Iowa.
They were equally generous in their support of Camp Courageous in Monticello as they provided donations ranging from housekeeping essentials to office supplies, sports equipment, benches, and a medical ATV. In addition, they invested in the dorm, the musical park, and the multi-purpose field.
John loved nature, especially trees and flowers, and his passion was growing, exhibiting, and judging roses. He and Peg grew more than 250 varieties over the course of 50 years; and he received recognition for his service as a judge, Consulting Rosarian, Consulting Rosarian Emeritus, and Horticulture Judge Emeritus. He was also president of the Linn County Rose Society for many years.
Throughout their lives, John and Peg enjoyed reading, traveling, live theatre, movies and sports; and they enthusiastically supported and cheered for five University of Iowa teams in person: football, men’s and women’s basketball, wrestling, and softball. Their love for Hawkeye softball led them to donate the Pearl Field scoreboard, which bears their names.
John had a bookmark with the following quotation by Edgar Allen, the founder of Easter Seals: “Your life and mine shall be valued not by what we take… but by what we give.” That was John! Those words exemplified the way he lived his life: investing his time, talents and resources in volunteering, helping people, and generously supporting worthy causes. He wanted to make a difference, and he did!
John will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 53 years, Peg Slusher; brother-in-law, Dave (Cathy) Stead, Andover, Minnesota; sister-in-law, Kaytlin Stead (Patty Barber), Fletcher, North Carolina; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Stead, Orlando, Florida; nieces, Mindy (Heath) Blair, Phoenix, Arizona; Tracy Pearce, Shoreview, Minnesota; Kelly (Keith) Kroskie, Columbus, Ohio; and nephew, Ryan (Jessica) Stead, Orlando, Florida.
John was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Paul Slusher and his wife Roseanne Slusher; nephew, Kyle Slusher; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Roddy and Vance Stead; brother-in-law, Tom Stead; and niece, Karyn Stead Kizina.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorial’s in John’s name be directed to Camp Courageous in Monticello, the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, or Marion Methodist Church.
Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting the family.
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