Obituary of John William Furrer

John William Furrer was born on June 4, 1934, in Nevada, Iowa, to Donald C. and Bessie Wilson Furrer.  He died on June 16, 2023, at the age of 89.

 

John grew up in Iowa and graduated from Indianola High School in Indianola, Iowa, and from Iowa State College with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering.  He had accepted a commission in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and entered active duty in September 1956.  In December 1956, he wed Carol Ann Arringdale of Boone, Iowa, beginning a happy 66-year partnership.

 

Overseas tours were spent in Iran and Vietnam as an aviator, and the family accompanied John for eight years in South America, where he was serving with the Interamerican Geodetic Survey (IAGS), working in collaboration with national mapping agencies to produce geodetic data and maps.  Tours in Peru and Venezuela were as an aviator, followed by 3.5 years as the Officer in Charge of the IAGS element in Bolivia.

 

John retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1976.  Awards during military service include a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, a Master Army Aviator Badge, Air Medal with eight Oak Leaf Clusters, two Bronze Stars, and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

 

Post retirement activities centered around travel and senior sports.  Winters were spent in Arizona, with overseas travel to England, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Hungary, New Zealand, and Mexico. Athletics included basketball, running, competitive swimming, and finally 25 years playing slow pitch softball.  John was never a softball star but was competent enough to play for several of the best age group teams from Seattle to Portland and in Arizona.  Carol and John traveled widely to tournaments across the United States and Canada, culminating in a World Championship with an 80-and-over team sponsored by Joeseppi’s restaurant in Tacoma.

 

John was preceded in death by his parents; son, Scott; brother, Max; and granddaughter, Kristen Brown.  Surviving are spouse, Carol; daughter, Korinne Lacy; sons, Jeffrey and Daniel; Scott’s widow, Sherry; and a sister, Donna in Iowa.  There are eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

 

No formal service is planned but well-wishers are encouraged to call Carol at 360-789-7041.

 

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