John L. "Jack" Felderman

John "Jack" L. Felderman, 92, passed away on September 7, 2025, at Luther Manor - Grand Meadows, with his family by his side.

Friends and family may visit from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road. A Wake Service will be held at 3:45 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at St. Columbkille Catholic Church with Rev. G. Robert Gross officiating. Military Honors will be accorded at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Entombment will be at a later date.

Jack was born in Dubuque, Iowa, on 30 July 1933, to Laverne Gerard "Pat" and Elizabeth Katherine "Betty" (Eberhardt) Felderman of Dubuque. Jack graduated from Dubuque Loras Academy in 1951, served in the U.S. Navy, and graduated from Loras College R.O.T.C. program of Dubuque in 1958.

Jack served with distinction for more than twenty years in the U.S. Navy before retiring in 1975 with the rank of Commander. He was a former Dubuque City Councilman, a Dubuque/Iowa/National REALTOR for more than forty years, an Illinois REALTOR, and an Iowa/Illinois General Appraiser for more than forty years with Continental Realty and Felderman Appraisals.

Jack's military career reads like an action novel. In 1951, he attended US Navy Recruit Training in San Diego, CA, and was assigned to the USS Princeton VA-37 in the personnel division. He spent time in Kodiak, Alaska, and when his tour was completed, returned to Dubuque for R.O.T.C. training at Loras College.

Jack was commissioned as an Ensign in 1958 and assigned to the USS Morton DD-948 as the Electronics Division Officer in the Operations Department. During this assignment, there was a fire on board that killed the Chief Corpsman, and Jack responded to the fire, helping to remove the charred remains of those who died in the fire.

In 1962, he was transferred to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, DC, as the Enlisted Assignment Officer. It was here that Jack regularly briefed President Kennedy in the White House and even at Camp David.

In 1964, Lieutenant Felderman became the Commanding Officer of the USS Widgeon MC-208 in Sasebo, Japan. From 1965 to 1966, he was also the Mine Division Thirty-Two (32) Commanding Officer. Most of his time was at sea in Vietnam, minesweeping the harbors of Vietnam, since there were no recent navigation charts or maps. The ship received small arms fire from shore during these operations. The USS Widgeon intercepted Vietnamese coastal crafts and vessels, which were searched and boarded to locate explosives and war materials.

Jack attended the Defense Intelligence School in Washington, DC, en route to his 1967 assignment with the US Sixth Fleet in Gaeta, Italy, as the Deputy Intelligence Officer.

From Italy, Jack returned to the States for school at the Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, VA. After graduating, Jack was assigned as the Executive Officer of the USS William C. Lawe DD-763. He joined the ship while she was on a Middle East tour of India, the Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf, before returning to the ship's homeport of Mayport, Florida.

In 1970, Jack was appointed as the Commanding Officer of the USS Sarsfield DD-837. In 1972, the USS Sarsfield became part of the USS Saratoga Attack Aircraft Carrier Task Force, which traveled from Mayport through the Gulf of Mexico, through the Panama Canal, and the Atlantic Ocean to Vietnam. While there, his ship came under enemy artillery fire from shore, and it was damaged. His mission was to save US troops from being overrun on the land. There was frequent gunfire against ships unloading war materials in North Vietnam. On one occasion, the vessel was under direct fire that destroyed the majority of the topside equipment and superstructures that required shipyard repair. Jack was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for Valor, and the Meritorious Unit Commendation by the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral E. R. Zumwalt, Jr.

Upon the ship's return to Mayport, Florida, in 1973, he relinquished command of the USS Sarsfield. He was assigned as the Cruiser Destroyer Group 12 Staff as Readiness Officer (maintenance and materials) and Operations Department Officer for the. Jack retired from the US Navy in 1975, returning to Dubuque, Iowa, for a forty-year career in real estate and appraisals.

Jack's military awards included the National Defense Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Star, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, and the Bronze Star with Combat "V."

Jack and Jan converted a townhouse in Cable Car Square into offices for Ambassador Travel and Continental Realty & Investments, Ltd., businesses they started and operated. The travel agency was sold in the 1980s, and they focused on the real estate and appraisal firm. The real estate firms moved to several locations but always remained in the downtown. The firm was closed in 2019, and they both retired.

His wife of 70 years is Janet Barbara "Jan" (Soppe) Felderman of Dyersville. She was his real estate office manager for decades and his favorite partner in golf, bridge, and cooking. Jan and Jack were married at St. Columbkille Church on 25 November 1954, on Thanksgiving Day. Together they had four children: Robert John "Bob" (Nancy J. Said) Felderman of Dubuque, Iowa; William John "Bill" (Wendi Lea Jungjohan) Felderman of Peosta, Iowa; Mary Jo (Todd Hanson) Amani of Swannanoa, North Carolina; and Patrick John (Jeri Cancel) Felderman of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Remembering their "Grandpa Jack" are fourteen grandchildren: Jacob Robert (Martina Pröll) Felderman, Jamie Rae (Scott) Borland, Shaunda Marie Felderman, Elisabeth Marisol Amani, Liam Franklin Amani, Nathan (Sarah Trackwell) Goble, Brian Patrick Felderman, and Reed Charles Felderman. His step-grandchildren are Bryce Allen (Shelby Lea Flynn) Eipperle, Miranda Claire (fiancé Casey Neyens) Eipperle, Chance Phillip Eipperle, Chelsea (Jimmy) McDonald, and Celeste' Cancel. Their nine great-grandchildren include Alexander Jacob Felderman, Simon Chance Felderman, Adeline "Birdy" Rose Borland, Mirabel Amani Borland, Kayla Marie Tate Felderman, Jerrick Michael Joseph Steffen, Gabrial Andre Amani, Tyler Braden Goble, James T. McDonald, and great-great-grandchild Armani Kay Marie Escobedo Townsend.

Surviving family members include sisters-in-law Joan (Tom) Felderman and Doris (Dave) Felderman, and brother-in-law Dennis (Janet) Berger.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pat & Betty Felderman; in-laws, Leo & Loretta (Tobin) Soppe; brothers, Tom & Dave Felderman; sister, Janet (Felderman) Berger; and grandson, Daniel Lukas Amani.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations to Hospice of Dubuque at 1670 JFK Rd, Dubuque, IA 52002, and the Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, USA.