January 11, 2019 … Donald Trump was President … Government was in partial shutdown … border wall was a controversial topic and the Brewers had beat the Cubs … Jr decided he’d had enough and left this earth for a far better place! Jr fought really hard to come back to his family, but it wasn’t meant to be… God had other plans. Jr passed away peacefully at Dallas County Hospital in Perry, surrounded by his loving family.
Irvin Jr Whiteley was born on January 31, 1928, in Sewal, IA, to Irvin Erwin Whiteley and Sara Emma (Todd) Whiteley. Jr went to school in Sewal until seventh grade and attended “Country School” north of Corydon in eighth and ninth grade and graduated from Allerton High School in 1946. Jr rode his horse to and from school many of those days. While in high school he worked at the Webb Sale Barn and at Whiteley Electric with his brother Dail. Jr spent his leisure time working with and training horses.
Jr was married on June 3, 1949 at the Christian parsonage in Allerton to Geneva Frances Ockerman and they resided in Corydon, where their first daughter, Peggy Ann, was born. Jr worked at Bricks Gas Station, then he worked at Wolf’s Furniture Store and Funeral Home, and after leaving Wolf’s he worked at Jack’s Grocery and Murphy’s Clothing Store.
In 1959 Jr joined the P.M. Place Company as manager. His first store was in Corning, later transferring to Albany, MO, (where their second daughter, Terry Lynn, was born), Boone, and Jefferson, where Jr and Geneva were to make their home until December 2015. After working for Place’s for 25-plus years, he began working at the Greene County assessor’s office as an appraiser for nine years while working at Spring Lake as a park officer part-time. After retiring from the assessor’s office he worked at Midwest Dry Cleaning and continued at Spring Lake. He left Midwest Dry Cleaning to work at Bayard Basics Hardware Store and helped every weekend at Bayard Dance Country both in Bayard, until their closing. Then … he finally learned the difference between “retired” and “tired”.
Among his hobbies and favorite things to do were riding and training horses, sports of all kinds especially baseball in high school and as an adult, playing third base at Shane Hill with the Whiteley Family and others. Other favorite pastimes included girls softball, golf, bowling, dancing, fishing, boating, westerns on television, country music, and good food. Jr was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson, Kiwanis, Rotary, league bowling, Chamber, Jaycees, MYF leader, and was president of girl’s senior league softball.
In December of 2015 due to health issues the decision was made to move in with daughter Peg in Perry. After a two-month hospital stay Jr moved to the Rowley Masonic Home in Perry, where he lived until his death.
Jr was preceded in death by his parents Irvin and Sara Whiteley; a sister Sarah Whiteley; Geneva’s parents Aaron Ockerman and Ina Ockerman; brother-in-law Lowell Ockerman and his wife Virginia Ann; sister-in-law Lois Morrett and husband George; and sister-in-law Anna Mae Tonelli and husband Charles, along with several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 69 years Geneva Whiteley; his daughters Peg (Dick) Wilcox of Perry and Terry (Dennis) Murphy of Jefferson; grandchildren Jennifer Pierce of Perry, David Wilcox of Des Moines, Jill (Jim) Carollo of Allen, TX, Roxanne Wilcox of Davenport, and Michael Wilcox of Scranton; great-grandchildren Katie Humpal, Dalton Humpal, Emma Humpal, Breanna Carollo, and Parker Pierce; and his brother Dail (Maxine) Whiteley of Corydon. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, other family, and many friends.
Jr’s body was cremated and no services are planned per his wishes. Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson assisted the family.
Memorials may be sent to Geneva Whiteley at 12432 K Drive, Perry, IA 50220
