Jack McGivern

Jack McGivern

Lake View

Jack McGivern, age 66 of Lake View, IA, passed away on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center in Des Moines, IA. John James “Jack” McGivern was born on December 23, 1955, the sixth of ten children, to parents Michael and Bette (Shaull) McGivern in Marengo, IA. The family lived on a farm in Marengo where all of the children grew up. Jack graduated from Iowa Valley High School in Marengo in 1974 and then attended William Penn College. He graduated with his teaching degree in 1978.

On October 21, 1978, Jack married Vanessa Lynn Voss at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Marengo. They were blessed with a daughter, Megan. The family moved to Lake View where Jack worked as a teacher for what was then the Lake View-Auburn school district. He also coached cheerleading for the district. Jack taught for thirty-five years before retiring and then was a substitute teacher for another five years. He was an adored teacher by not only his students, but his coworkers as well. He certainly had the heart for the job and it showed.

Not only did Jack work as a teacher, he worked as an attendant at Camp Crescent for twenty-four years, as a waiter at Country Inn in Lake View for twenty-four years, and at Spring Lake Golf Course for eighteen years. He liked to stay busy to say the least! If you didn’t see him at any of those places, you may have seen him out and about on his daily four mile walk which he always took rain or shine and in freezing temps or on sweltering hot days.

Jack was an avid reader. He especially enjoyed Sci-Fi books as well as watching the same types of shows on TV. He liked to play cards with his friends and family and was just a ‘people-person’ in general. He was an amazing singer who sang at countless funerals and weddings and had no problem picking up the mic to sing some karaoke. He participated in a production group out of Sac City where he performed in musicals such as Oklahoma!, Pirates of Penzance, and several others including plays by George M. Cohan. Jack could be found cheering on his grandchildren at all of their sporting events, he was one of their biggest fans. His family meant the world to him, and he was a dear friend to many. He will be missed immensely by all who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his wife Vanessa McGivern of Lake View; daughter Megan (Jeff) Hansen of Schaller; grandchildren Delainey, Chayse, Graceyn, Kloey, and Payge Hansen, all of Schaller; siblings: Denny (Joyce) McGivern of Cedar Falls, IA, Dan (Cludy) McGivern of Iowa City, Patrick (Pam) McGivern of Prescott, AZ, Coleen Sydor of Richmond, KY, Mike (Leigh) McGivern of Cedar Rapids, Sean (Jennifer) McGivern of Hampton, I, Carol (Don) Malecek of Fairfax, Marlene (Bruce) Lunardi of Bettendorf, and Nancy (Alan) Buss of Cedar Rapids; mother-in-law Bonnie (Patterson) Voss of Marengo; brother-in-law Tony Voss of Des Moines; thirty nieces and nephews; thirty great-nieces and -nephews; other extended family members and friends.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents Mike and Bette McGivern; sister-in-law Patricia McGivern; brother-in-law John Sydor; and niece Kristen McGivern.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 17, 2022, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Wall Lake, IA. Rosary will start at 9 a.m. Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Lake View. Farber & Otteman Funeral Home of Lake View has been entrusted to care for Jack and his family.