John Hemsley, 87 of What Cheer, died Saturday, March 20, 2021 at the Sigourney Care Center. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 3, 2021 in the Sixteen Cemetery near Thornburg. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the family.

John Everett Hemsley was born in What Cheer, Iowa on December 20, 1933, the son of Everett and Madge Lawrence Hemsley. He was a 1952 graduate of What Cheer High School. Then in 1956 John was drafted by the U.S. Navy where he served with the United States Naval Construction Battalion (Seabees) in Guam. On April 6, 1963 John was united in marriage to Connie Jo Wilhite in Gibson, Iowa. To the union came two sons, Ross and David. After his honorable discharge from the Navy, he returned home where he began working as a mechanic form Hemsley Chevrolet. John eventually became the owner of the car dealership until it's closing. He also worked at the VA Hospital in Iowa from 1991 until his retirement in 2005. John enjoyed riding his motorcycle and touring the entire country with his friends, Cecil Middleton and Emmett Ewing. He will be remembered as a quite gentle soul who enjoyed conversations with his friends and family.

John was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marjorie Allgood.

He is survived by his wife Connie Hemsley; two sons, Ross (Amy) Hemsley and David (Cheryl) Hemsley; a brother-in-law, Rex Allgood; three grandchildren, Chelsea (Brandon) Molyneux, Shanoah (John) Sullivan, Nathan (Brandi) Hemsley. John also leaves behind eight great grandchildren.