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John Hintermeister Obituary
John L. Hintermeister
October 5, 1938 - July 5, 2020
MUSCATINE - In the blink of an eye and with no warning at all, the world lost a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, a lawyer, a hunter, a boat maker, a fisherman, a pilot, a story teller. For those left behind, the world will never be quite the same. He was born to Herschel Oliver Hintermeister and Rita St. Dennis Hintermeister and began his life on a farm. He would go on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the University of Iowa in 1966 and practice law for many years, crossing paths with so many different people along that journey. He was City Attorney in Muscatine alongside Evelyn Schauland as Mayor. He became a pilot with a variety of different airplanes and many an adventure did they take him on including camping on the beach of the Baja Peninsula, flying to the Bahamas and flying down the center of the Grand Canyon. He crashed his plane not once but twice and survived to tell about it! When he got that craziness out of his system he went on to take up traveling the country in his RV with his wife and found so many more friends and adventures on that route. He built four wooden boats and not one of them sank......He was an avid outdoors man and loved to hunt when he was younger and still loved to fish. His love of water and boating was passed down and he took several chartered sailing trips together as well. More than anything he loved to tell a story, and this is his. He is survived by his wife Judith, his sisters Bette Schneider and Gloria Fryer, his daughters Dr. Melinda Hintermeister and Lisa Burwell, his son Michael Hintermeister, his step children Todd MacSorley and Heather West, his grandsons Seth and Sam Hintermeister and Derrick and David Bueno and four great grand children. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Karen.
He was not one for fuss and has always requested no funeral service, but he wanted a gathering of people to come together and tell a story. Please join us at the Mississippi Brew on August 16 from 2-6 pm and share what it was like to be a friend or a family member or just someone who passed through his life.
In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to the Esther Bishop Scholarship Fund at the Muscatine Community College. He was active in helping her establish that fund,
One of his most frequent recitals was "don't ask how we got here. Just ask what we are going to do now." In life and now in death I believe that he would still be saying this.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Hintermeister
Robert Brecht
March 17, 2022
Just writing this and knowing it is so late brings tears to my eyes. I moved from Muscatine to Las Cruces, NM when I retired in October of 2008. I wish I had known of John's passing sooner.
Back in the early 1980s, I was starting a part-time career selling real estate. I really needed an attorney I could recommend and count on to handle the legal details involved in sales and purchases. Pete Hatfield suggested John. I stopped into John's office one day unannounced and asked to see him and explained to him my needs. He immediately made me feel like a long-lost friend and said he would be happy to work with me. He followed that with a story about Pete Hatfield. John always had a story to tell.
We became good friends during the years I worked in real estate, and I sent him a lot of clients. I never heard a single complaint from any of those clients about John. He was as honest and dependable as the day is long.
He once described flying his own plane to me as "hours and hours of boredom, interspersed with moments of terror". I still laugh about that one.
I will always consider knowing John as one of the high points in my life. What a GREAT guy! What a GREAT friend!
I'm sorry I wasn't there for the send-off party John.
Rest in peace, my friend. I will miss you.
Gordon Jaeger
August 14, 2020
John was one of few long time true friends. He became the Muscatine city attorney shortly after I became the city's first city administrator. We did, and paved the way for, a lot of good things for the City of Muscatine. One of the first, to get the city on a good financial setting, was to reduce the number of bank accounts so that the city would earn interest on it's funds. This alone earned twice my annual salary per year.
John was never shy about making decisions and offering advice. He was fresh out of law school but one of the best city attorneys that I worked with throughout my 25 years as a city manager. He also taught me how to drink beer. After Council meetings we would go to the top of the downtown hotel and drink pitchers of beer. Another good beer drinking time was on the annual levee inspections with Brass from the Corp. of Engineers. First walk to the top of the levee, then board a river boat to drink beer and eat catfish all afternoon.
After leaving Muscatine we became even closer friends. Did vacationing together. Lots of boating and fishing. He flew his Cessna to Oshkosh, Wisconsin and Battle Creek, Michigan where I later served. Also to Washington Island, Wisconsin where we vacationed and retired. We attended a few Packer games in Green Bay. At that time you could bring in your own flask. He made an Apple Jack that had an unbelievable aroma. When open it attracted attention for about 50' in every direction. Fished with him in northern Minnesota and off Washington Island in Lake Michigan. Downhill skied together in Upper Michigan and Colorado. I occasionally visited in Muscatine throughout the years.
In my opinion, either directly or behind the scenes, he was significantly responsible for much of the redevelopment and good things that have occurred in the City throughout the years along with a number of other community leaders. John will be missed and remembered by his family, his many friends, and his clients.
Gordon
I
Judy Bos
July 20, 2020
So glad Arnold and I got to meet John at Desert Shadows pickleball. He will be missed by all. Our sympathies go out to Judy and all John's family.
Cindy Holst
July 10, 2020
Mindy, Lisa and Mike,
Your Dad will be remembered as an ethical and honest man. We are very saddened by this sudden loss. May the many happy memories comfort you and help you honor him throughout your lives.
Greg King
July 10, 2020
My heartfelt condolences to all who had the honor of knowing John. He was my Dads best friend and for several years I was invited to tag along with John, my Dad (Jim) and a few other of Johns closest friends on some wonderful, epic adventures, all instigated and planned by John. We white-water rafted the Grand Canyon, rode ATVs in Utahs back country, snow-mobiled on the edge of Yellowstone Nat. Park, hiked and boated in Montana, and more. John was always the leader of the group and without him, those yearly adventures would never have happened. Also, I joined John and Judy in Europe when John piloted a narrowboat through the canal system of rural England. He was a true adventurer, and supreme craftsman who built a beautiful (and huge) wooden sail boat in his basement (and other boats as well). John, was a special soul (and at times, my lawyer) who will be greatly missed.
Florence Havemann Beckey
July 10, 2020
I was privileged to work for John when he was practicing law in Muscatine along about the years 1985 through 1990. I'm not sure. He wouldn't be either. Among all the stories I could tell, I'll choose this one. I was filling in one day for Pat Tober, and John's phone rang. The message for me to leave for John was this: "Tell him Avery Kallembeck called." I gave the message to John, who fell back in his chair and laughed his guts out. He said something like, "Oh, yeah. That was Avery whatever he says his name is. That really was so-and-so playing a trick on me. Hahahahah. " So he dialed the number, and I heard him get very serious. It was indeed a new client, whose name happened to be just that. After the conversation we both had the best laugh. So, here's to you, John. I hope I don't have to call you some day, but that you'll be wherever I end up so we can have more good times. I hope this can be read at the party you have planned,
Julie Long
July 9, 2020
John will definitely be missed. He was a very dear friend to my father through the years and was also our family lawyer. I loved it when John came into the station for gas, he and Dad always enjoyed telling stories and even taking off right then to go for a ride in the plane!! God Bless you John!! Im sure you and Dad are hanger flying in heaven and telling the stories!! RIP. Love, Julie and Tim Long
Jerry Page
July 9, 2020
John, one of the world's nice people who spent his life living life and helping others. A friend and advisor for 60+ years. Any get together always included a story, many times about his family of whom he was so proud. Being a fellow pilot resulted in lots of travel and flying experiences over the years. He was just a great man. Prayers and sincerest condolences to Judy and family. You will be missed, John.
Eric Knoernschild
July 9, 2020
John and I were law partners for 22 years. He was the reason our family moved to Muscatine. He worked hard, was honest to the core, and maintained high ethical standards. He was a straight shooter. You never had to guess where he stood on an issue. He loved flying. We flew to Taos to ski and to Washington Island with Bob Lande for a fly in. He had only one rule, Dont vomit in my plane! I have many remembrances to recount but time will not allow. John and I had the same creed, Live hard and die quick. He lived his creed but died much too early. He will be remembered often. Bev and I send our sincerest condolences to Judy and the family. Bev and Eric Knoernschild
Jim and Karen Barton
July 9, 2020
Jim and i have known John for 62 years and there will never be another John. So many memories of his love for adventure. When Karen and I were on our pediatric affiliation in Cincinnati,, Ohio in 1960, John and Jim took a few laps around the Indianapolis Speedway on the way to visit us. The security guard politely told them to leave and he would not report it! Just the beginning of John adventures through the years. We will never forget you dear friend. Sympathy and love to the whole family. Watch for the new star in heaven- it will be the one whizzing across the sky!
Larrie Dahl
July 9, 2020
great Man who was always direct and had a huge laugh friend , fellow pilot, smart hard working who always had time for everyone
Very proud of his family Rest In Peace John. You are missed
Linda Harris
July 9, 2020
He was a great man. Enjoyed life. Great attorney. He was our attorney too. My sister Pat worked for John for many years. He will certainly be missed by many. Prayers for all the family. RIP John. The Harris family
LeAnne Daufeldt
July 8, 2020
I am still in shock. John hired me 20 years ago and never a full moment. He had a way of cheering you up if down. He would listen if you were troubled. He would inspire you to challenge yourself. He left an impact on me over the years. His stories, daily something new. I will miss you. Judy my heart breaks He is on the roller coaster to heaven. LeAnne
Pat & Burt Kinniburgh
July 8, 2020
Wow. Not our friend of many years John. We will miss his great smile..great laugh...his enjoyment of adventure....his stories....his love for Judy. We are very sad and send condolences to his family as they try to deal with this shocking event.
Dona Pearce
July 8, 2020
Dear Mindy, Lisa and Mike -
I am so sad about your dad's passing. He was always larger than life and truly lived life with gusto. My Jon enjoyed him and his stories, and they were good friends. Both Jon and I always thought a lot of John. I hope they're trading stories in Heaven.
Because of COVID-19, I will not be joining you physically at the Brew in August, but I will be there in spirit. When our son was born, your dad gave him his first baseball mitt at the age of 6 weeks along with a letter that said, in part: "Robbie, I thought you were probably tired of getting prissy little shirts, so enjoy this baseball glove." We loved it! He was a good friend, a principled man, and he lived life to the fullest. The world has lost a good person. My condolences are with all of you. Sincerely, Dona Pearce
Paul & Heidi Anderson
July 8, 2020
Judy we are so sorry to hear of Johns passing. We have fond memories when you were are neighbors. All of you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Gini Van Zandt
July 8, 2020
John was one of a kind and I so looked forward to my meetings with him. We had to catch up on all the people we shared knowing. All about his latest escapades and I remember the last being him trying to talk me into getting a travel trailer. "Gini you could handle it and love it".
I know he ll keep busy in heaven and maybe go fishing with my Dad. I will truly miss you John.
Sandy & Gary Fortney
July 8, 2020
So many memories over the years...as far back as freshman year of high school in Fairfield with Gary. Our attorney, family friend, lover of a good time. Our love and deep sympathy to all of the family. May you be comforted by all the good memories!
Phyllis and Richard Pomeroy
July 8, 2020
So sorry for his loss. Condolences to Judy and other family members.
Dyann & Dave Roby
July 8, 2020
John was a beautiful soul wrapped in values and character. May memories comfort your grieving hearts. God's blessings ~ Dyann & Dave Roby
Dyann Roby
July 8, 2020
A beautiful soul wrapped in values and heart. May memories comfort your grieving hearts. God's blessing ~ Dyann & Dave Roby
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