Johnnie Louis Reichart

Services for Johnnie Louis Reichart, 74, of Indianola, who passed away Saturday, July 12, 2025 in Des Moines, will be held 7 p.m., Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola with burial to be held at 11 a.m., Monday, July 21, 2025 in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Adel, Iowa.
Johnnie Louis Reichart was born in Newton, Iowa. He grew up on a farm in Indianola and went to school there. He joined the United States Marine Corps, and served as a sniper in Vietnam. He was also a sniper trainer. He served with honor and the Marines was a big part of his life. Upon returning home, he married a girl he went to school with, Joan McCauley. No man could have loved a woman more than he loved his beloved Jo. He worked for MidWest Sprinkler for many years, then moved to Aurora, Missouri. There, he started his own sprinkler business, JR Automatic Sprinkler. Years later he and Joan, bought a home in Indianola, Iowa. Johnnie loved cooking and would make the most fantastic meals for family and friends at holidays, Super Bowls, or just because it was a Saturday. Republic, Missouri had a Fall Festival each year and Johnnie cooked for over 2,000 people. He cooked for churches, sometimes accompanied by his brother Philip. Johnnie had a beautiful voice and would sing whenever the situation presented it's self...or if there was a microphone, he'd just get up and sing. He had a karaoke machine in his home and during parties would coerce everyone to take a turn. He loved life. When he lived in Aurora, Missouri, he and Joan would go to the Branson Shows. He got a lot of enjoyment from them, he loved to laugh. Christmas time was dear to his heart. Last winter, he decorated his entire street with Christmas decorations. He did it as a tribute to Joan, out of his love and dedication to her. All of the local news stations picked up the story, and it made national news. Now, let me tell you about my brother. He was godly, comical (well...he thought so), generous, ever working, industrious and dedicated to family and friends. My brother was bigger than life to me.
Johnnie is survived by his wife Joan Reichart; daughter, Sherry (Troy) Ketchum; grandchildren, Lucas Seitz and Haley Bridges; great-grandchildren, Emma Bridges and Wesley McIntyre; siblings, Phyllis Carey, Philip (Pam) Reichart and Donna (Kelly) Hart; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Phil and Ida Reichart; sisters, Kathye Gentry and Lynnie Reichart.
Visitation will be held prior to services from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials in memory of Johnnie may be given to Alzheimer's Research.