Obituary of Arthur John Westmark

DYERSVILLE, IOWA Arthur J. Westmark, 99, of Dyersville, Iowa died Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at Oak Crest Manor in Dyersville. Friends may call from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave SW in Dyersville where a parish vigil service and rosary will be held at 4:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Jan. 5, 2015, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. Dennis Quint will officiate and American Legion Post 137 will accord Military Honors as pallbearers. Art was born May 26, 1915, in Dyersville, Iowa the son of Ignatius and Margaret (Frieburg) Westmark. He graduated from Xavier High School and He married Wilma J. Krapfl on June 12, 1940, in Dyersville and they began their family. He served in the US Army from 1944 - 1946 in the Southern Philippines and Japan. Upon his return he began working for Silver Streak as a welder, but most of his career was spent with Jacque's Home Fashion, spanning two generations as a general hand and mentor to the family. Art was a member of American Legion Post 137 and spent 10 years on the Dyersville Volunteer Fire Department. He truly loved spending time with his grand and great-grandchildren, whom he often spoiled with candy and ice cream cones. Survivors include his daughter, Judy Henke of Dyersville, 2 grandchildren: Mike (Jessica) Henke of Encinitas, CA and Christy (Bob) Saylor of Dyersville, 4 great grandchildren: Evan and Rhyan Henke and Lucas and Reagan Saylor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma, in 1999, one son, David in 1971, siblings: Elmer (Martha), Cleo (Loretta), Walter (Constance), and Jack (Cordis) Westmark, Viola (Walter) Streif and Laura (George) Streif; in-laws: Valeria (Linus) Mensen and Verna (Lawrence) Willenbring. Memorials are preferred. We would like to extend our thanks to the Oak Crest Manor staff for taking such wonderful care of Art and providing love and support to his family.