John Edward Hutton, Jr.
(Lt. Col. USAF - retired)
Des Moines
John Edward Hutton, Jr. passed away on September 16, 2014 at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, Iowa. Born January 25, 1927 in Des Moines, he was the son of John and Rosetta Hutton. John was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary, son Ronald, sister Colleen Ryan, and brother-in-law David Ryan.
John grew up in East Des Moines and attended Willard Elementary School and Woodrow Wilson Junior High School. He graduated from Des Moines East High School and, in September of 1944, enlisted in the U.S. Navy. John served as Aircrewman, Radioman, and Aerial Gunner in the U.S. Navy from 1944-1948. He passed the required examination and was admitted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1948. Upon graduation in 1952, John was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, beginning a career of 28 years. While in the Air Force, he earned his pilot wings and qualified to pilot a number of different aircraft. In 1967 and 1968, during the Vietnam War, he flew over 300 combat missions while stationed at several bases in Thailand and Vietnam. After returning from Southeast Asia, John worked as an officer in engineering, material, logistics and supply until his retirement in 1980. During John's military career, he received the American Defense Medal (with star), American Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Air Medal (with cluster), Vietnam Service Medal (with 3 stars), Presidential Unit Citation (with star), and the Air Force Meritorious Medal, among others. In 1980 John retired from the Air Force with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. That same year he returned to Des Moines and worked with the Iowa State Fair Maintenance Team until 1995.
John is survived by his wife Jane; son Curtis; daughter-in-law Nancy; step-daughter Kristin (Mike) Barry; brother-in-law Robert (Jan) Gustafson; nieces Linda (Ted) Nemmers, Nancy Ryan, Debbie Ryan, Kelley (David) Nickell, Stacey (Steve) Topp, Lynn (Larry) Doering, Debbie (Dale) Decker, and Shari Gustafson; nephews David (Connie) Ryan, Robin Gustafson, and Rodney Gustafson; grandchildren Mary Kathryne (Ryan Spears) Hutton, John Whitaker Hutton, Adam Barry, Sean Barry, and Kayla (Shane) Hanson; and great granddaughter Parker Hanson.
Visitation began at 11:00 a.m. and services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19, 2014 at Hamilton's Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. John will be buried in The Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 22, 2014.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the following:
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 738
Attention: Travis Holden
2801 Dean Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50317
or other charity of the contributor's choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
6 Entries
I spent a week sharing a room in the hospital with John when he took a nasty fall at his home. In that time I got to know John, Jane and son Curtis and had several conversations with all of them. They were all very special people. I remember watching the Army-Navy football game in our room and asked John if he ever went to that game, knowing that he probably did. John said he been there four times. What a great patriot and I am glad I got to know him even for a short week.
Gene Davis
September 19, 2014
Mark McGuffin, Kallen Bailey and I worked with the "Colonel", as we all called him, during the Summers of 1986, 87, and 88, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds Maintenance Department. He has not changed ONE BIT since that time until this obituary photograph was taken. I have not seen him since those days over 25 years ago, but I do recall that he was a very good man, and a role model as far as being a good person was concerned. I knew that he had served in the military, and I knew that he was in the Air Force, but I did NOT know that he was a WWII & Vietnam Veteran, and I did not know that he attended the U.S. Naval Academy. On behalf of a grateful Nation, THANK YOU and your family, COLONEL, for your service to our Nation. It was an honor to know this man.
Todd Jacobus
September 18, 2014
John was an amazing man. I am so happy you two had a good life together. He will be missed.
Mary Freimuth Helt
September 18, 2014
So sorry to hear of Mr. Hutton's death. May loving memories bring solace to the family.
Mary
September 18, 2014
My deepest condolences to the family, may you find comfort and strength from the God of all comfort (Acts24:15)
September 18, 2014
Sorry to hear about your loss. May you find hope in the God of all comfort. 2 Cor. 1:3-5
September 17, 2014
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