John “Jack” Leroy Gidley, the son of Arthur and Edna (Schneider) Gidley was born October 12, 1936 in Cedar Bluffs, NE. He moved to Riverton, WY as a young child, before moving to Sioux Rapids, IA as a freshman in high school. He played 4 years of football and other  activities.

     John enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 and served until his Honorable Discharge in 1958. He married Ramona Stacy on February 14, 1956. After the Army they moved back to Sioux Rapids where he opened a gas/service station.  He had a real passion for serving all the locals in keeping their automobiles operating and was considered a rock in the community. He operated for 50 years under the names of Jack’s Skelly, Jack’s Conoco, and Jack’s Service. Jack sold the business and then worked part time at Sioux Food Center-continuing to serve the local Sioux Rapids community. He retired in 2016 retired and moved to Milford Iowa. He enjoyed many family activities, showing horses-snowmobiling-motorcycling-camping-hunting-golfing-walking-spending time with friends and family and going to Joy and Mikes school activities. He especially enjoyed bantering back and forth with Mike about his Hawkeyes and Mikes Cyclones!!!

     Jack passed away Friday, November 27, 2020 at the age of 84, at Spencer Municipal Hospital  after a fierce 5-week battle with the Corona Virus. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ramona, one brother, Gene, and 2 sisters, Laverna and Marlin.

     Left to cherish his memory are his son, Mike (Barb) Gidley of Arnolds Park, IA and Joy (Paul) Madsen of Sioux Rapids, IA; her grandchildren: Jacqueline, Kayla and John Gidley, Stacy (Madsen) Thompson (Adam), Matt (Miranda) Madsen and Nikki Madsen; her great grandchildren: Blake, Johnny and Ally Madsen, Ronin and Kaia Thompson; other relatives and friends.