John Lewis Crist

John Lewis Crist Jr., 87, passed away peacefully at his home in Phoenix, Arizona on February 13, 2026.

On November 11, 1938, John (also known as Jack by family and friends) was born to John Lewis Crist, Sr. and Inger H. Haurberg in Buda, Illinois. He graduated from Toulon High School in 1956 in Toulon, Illinois. He then went on to Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois. He was the president of his fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon. He was proud to share this honor with President Ronald Reagan. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree that led him to do many wonderful things in his career.

He taught Biology at Kewanee High School in Kewanee, Illinois until he was accepted as one of the first volunteers in the Peace Corp which led him to spend two years in Liberia, Africa.

After his selfless service in the Peace Corp, he returned to Kewanee, Illinois and married Donna M. Ording. They had two daughters, Kelly and Kimberly. He worked for the government developing Job Corp centers in four different states: California, Massachusetts, Indiana and Clinton, Iowa.
He and his family moved to Burlington, Iowa in 1969, where he was employed as HR Manager at General Electric.

He was involved in community organizations and causes he cared deeply about including The Des Moines County Association for the Hearing Impaired which was formed to allow deaf and hard of hearing children access to education with resources in the public school system. He was also a volunteer and educator for the Junior Achievement program.

He met his life partner, Marjean Smith in 1979, and they moved to Phoenix, Arizona after he retired from General Electric in 1986. They started a cleaning business together, Clean Interiors, which he was still very involved with until his final days.

He loved watching old western TV shows and sports. He loved the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Bears and Cubs as well as the Phoenix Diamondbacks, Suns and Cardinals.

He is survived by his daughters; Kelly (Brian) Cohen, Kimberly Brenneman, Valery Smith, Natalie (Jeff) Bartenhagen; grandchildren, Kayley (Bailey) Ehringer, Nikolas Kirgan, Isabella Kirgan, Rivir Brenneman, Drayke Brenneman, Mycah Brenneman and Hunter Miskey; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his life partner; his parents; his brothers, Ralph H. Crist and James A. Crist; his niece, Janine Crist.

According to his wishes, cremation has been entrusted to the care of Angels Cremation & Burial in Mesa, Arizona. A private family service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Arizona Humane Society or Des Moines County Humane Society.