John V. Sjoblom

John V. Sjoblom, 90, of Fort Dodge, IA, died Sunday, August 18, 2024, at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home. John was born November 30, 1933, in Audubon County, IA, the son of Edward and Grace (Summers) Sjoblom. He graduated from Audubon High School in 1951, and continued his education at the Iowa State Teachers College where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in 1956. 

John actively served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1958. He was sent to Korea, where he worked as an Administrative Specialist in the Information Office of the Eighth Army Headquarters in Seoul. 

John earned a Master of Arts degree from Iowa State Teachers College (University of Northern Iowa) in 1961. He taught high school from 1958 to 1963 and was a systems engineer for IBM from 1963 to 1964. John then became the Assistant to the Registrar at Iowa State University in 1964 and Associate Registrar in 1967. John became university Registrar in 1975 and retired in 1996. 

John married Belinda Bergdahl and the couple later divorced. He later married Annette Shafer, who died in 1986. On August 20, 1988, he was united in marriage to Nancy Niles in Fort Dodge. 

John was active in many inter-institutional regent associations, as well as regional and national associations, including the Upper Midwest Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers and the Registrars of the Association of American Universities. John also received the Superior Service Award from the Iowa State University Alumni Association in 1991, in recognition of outstanding service to the university. 

John’s interests included World War II history, dancing, reading, making lists, and worrying. His family and friends knew he showed his love by worrying about them. John had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to laugh. 

John is survived by his wife of nearly 36 years, Nancy Niles of Fort Dodge; two children: Erik Sjoblom and wife Brenda of State Center, IA; and Kara Sjoblom-Bay and husband Stephen of San Diego, CA; two step-children: Dr. Sloan King of Tucson, AZ and Chad King and wife Tammy of Goose Creek, SC; and five grandchildren: Kody (Kelsey) Sjoblom; Katelynn (Payton) Dutcher, Christopher (Abbie) Sjoblom, Catherine (Jonathon Compton) Sjoblom; Niles King; and five great grandchildren: Mason, Reagan, Ellie, Harper, and Bauer; and his good friend Karsten Smedal of Ames, IA. He is also survived by his nephews, Scott and Steve Tibben. 

John was preceded in death by his parents, his sister: DeEtte Tibben, and his good friend Bill Lee.

He requested no services. Arrangements are with Historic Bruce Funeral Home of Fort Dodge.