John Edward Hart, 94, of Wheatland, passed away January 1, 2026, at the home farm he enjoyed his entire life, while family members and caregivers tended to him. A visitation will be held on Saturday January 24, 2026 at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Lost Nation from 9-11 a.m., with a service honoring John at 11:00. A lunch will follow at the church. Inurnment will be at St. James Cemetery, Toronto, Iowa at a later date.

John was born February 13, 1931, at Mercy Hospital, Davenport, Iowa. He was the son of Stephen A. and Kathryn Kelley Hart. He attended a one room schoolhouse, until 8th grade, known as Hart's school #6. It was ½ mile south of the Hart homestead. He was the last 8th grade class and the school was closed. He went on to Wheatland High School graduating in 1948. He then attended Oxford Preparatory School, Pleasantville, New Jersey from 1948-1949 and Iowa State University from 1949-1950. John never liked being away from the farm and came home for a few years in 1951-52, as he had two military deferments to help with labor on the farm. This is when he had his first date with Madonna Rose McClimon in 1952.

John was drafted to serve in the Army from January 1953 to December 1954, stationed in Okinawa for 17 ½ months. He had very good organizational skills and could type well so he became a supply sergeant in charge of the Army goods. He also joined the Army boxing team. He was one of 15 soldiers who were appointed to bring the colors and standards of the 29th Regimental Combat Team home to retirement at Fort Benning, Georgia. In December of 1954 he returned home and began farming fulltime with his father Stephen A. Hart. He also attended Reisch Auctioneering School at Mason City in December of 1955, and began crying sales with his father a few days after graduation. John auctioneered sales in Clinton County for 45 years and enjoyed bantering with the many bidders over the years.

On September 3, 1955 he wed Madonna Rose McClimon at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Petersville, Iowa. The couple farmed the Hart family century farm for 41 years until their son Paul assumed that role in 1996.

For decades, John was a Liberty Township trustee, and active in the community in many ways, especially playing cards for decades. He represented the Wheatland Lions Club in blood drives, fundraisers, and extra security for the Iowa Hawkeye games. John taught all of us children how to swim, play baseball and softball on the lawn, coached 4H basketball and was a constant fixture on the bleachers cheering his children on in sports, musical events, and life in general for decades. He was a strong father figure, a good provider, and a generous man to his children.

John put all of his children through college on a 420-acre grain and livestock farm, feeding cattle and hogs. From the years of 1974 – 1992 there was a minimum of one child in college, during years that spanned the farm crisis of the 1980's. One year, four daughters were at ISU at the same time. Dad and Mom were very generous and gave all of us a great foundation in life in many different ways.

John greatly enjoyed his 10 children, 33 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren (2 more on the way). Survivors include children John Stephen (Carol) Hart of Long Grove, Iowa; Anna Marie (Robert "Bucky") Percuoco of Parkview, Iowa; Paul (Rita) Hart of Wheatland, Iowa; Patricia Hart of Ankeny, Iowa; Colleen Hart (Bill) Gerdeman of Dickens, Iowa; Marita Condon of Eldridge, Iowa; Mary K. (John) Overholtzer of Tingley, Iowa; Maureen (Dana) Greer of Iowa City, Iowa; and Therese Hart (Robert) Beswick of Greeley, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his wife Madonna Rose Hart, June 14, 2025; a daughter Michaela Marie Hart, August 15, 1967; his half-brother Stephen Ambrose Hart, Jr., June 4,1984; sister-in-law Phyllis Ann Kerper Hart, February 20, 1975, Davenport, Iowa; his sister, Kathryn Therese Hart, BVM, May 25, 2003, Dubuque, Iowa; son-in-law Bill Condon, November 4, 2021, Lowden, Iowa; grandson Carl Hart Gerdeman, April 22, 1993, Dickens, Iowa; great grandson Matthew Hart Carhoff, August 26, 2012, Des Moines, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

For 3 ½ years, John's children, as well as outside caregivers, Julie Knoche, Linda Schneider, Jo Anne Horstmann, and Brittany Costas, consistently cared for Madonna and John. The last 2 years, St. Croix Hospice joined in those efforts; special thanks to Liz Harris, Abby Bergan, Bobby Jo Kerres, chaplain Michael Lebuhn, and Meghanne Siching for rendering wonderful aid to John and Madonna. The family is very appreciative of everyone's efforts to keep our parents together and comfortable on the farm all these years.