John L. Legler

John L. Legler was born on August 11, 1940 in Hawley, Minnesota. He graduated from Hawley High School in 1959. He served in the Air Force and was stationed in Nebraska. After serving his country, he worked various sales position in the Iowa area. On May 17, 1966, John married Georgene Gerkey Bishop who had three children: Brian, Kelly, and Tracey. Their daughter, Michelle, was born in 1968. John worked as a Manager/Salesman for Morton Buildings in Chariton, Iowa as well as in Garden City, Kansas. John and Georgene divorced in 1982 and eventually John moved back to Hawley, Minnesota where he and his brother, Tom, ran L&L Trucking. During his time in the Hawley area, John became the father to a son, John Michael "J.J." Legler, born on February 14, 1984. John later moved to the Denver, Colorado area to be near his daughter, Michelle. While living there, he married Christine Hoyt on March 10, 1990. He and Chris owned Rocky Mtn. Firewood, a successful fireplace wood company. The company furnished wood to many popular restaurants for cooking and to many faithful customers for their fireplaces. They later sold the business and moved to Story, Wyoming. Chris and John divorced in 2014. He moved back to Colorado to live with his daughter, Michelle, and worked for Horizon Transport hauling new RVs to various RV sales companies. John and his daughter, Michelle, moved to Russell, Iowa in 2016. John went to be with the Lord on October 11, 2019 at Circle of Life Hospice in Chariton, Iowa. John was a proud conservative, very much a people person and instantly became acquainted with anyone he met. He loved to visit, read, hunt, play cards, and was very well informed on many subjects. John is survived by his daughters, Michelle Legler and Tracey Gosselin; sister-in-law, Shirley Legler; grandchildren: Joe Ortega, Sara Ortega, Brian Sproul, and Jeremy Sproul; many great grandchildren; and his very much-loved friends, Bob and Debbie Williams. John was preceded in death by his mother, Joyce Legler; father, Lawrence Legler; brother, Tom Legler; and his three children: Brian Bishop, Kelly Bishop, and John "J.J." Legler. John will be placed to rest in Hawley, Minnesota and a private memorial for his family will be held at a later date.