John Kennedy Stalzer

John Kennedy Stalzer, 52, of Tama, passed away on Tuesday, September 13, 2016, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa, after a sudden illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 20, 2016, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the funeral home on Tuesday. Memorials may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date. For condolences or questions please visit: www.mitchellfh.com. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for John and his family. Phone 641-844-1234. John Kennedy Stalzer was born August 23, 1964, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Clifford Merle and Rosie Marie (Perry) Stalzer. John attended school in the Marshalltown Community School District graduating from Pleasant Hill in 1985. John resided in the CIRSI group home in Tama for the last several years, which he loved immensely. He was a member of the Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) and the Special Olympics. He enjoyed playing basketball, bowling, walking, camping, going to church, and watching Cops! on TV; not to mention his love for cheeseburgers, fries, ice cream, and Diet Coke. He will always be remembered for his energetic laughter and positive attitude. John taught us to have compassion for those with unique abilities, to rise above and not let the little things get us down, and to always have an accepting and positive attitude towards others. We are all better for having known and loved John. We take solace in knowing he is reunited with his mom and dad now, and probably having a cookie (or two). Left to cherish Johns memory are his siblings, Sandy Ridout, Shelley (Bob) Backes, Scott Stalzer and Jason (Kim) Stalzer all of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Matthew (Tiffany) Mann of Highlands Ranch, Colo; nieces and nephews, Jillissa Handorf of Marshalltown, Jeremiah Ridout of Grinnell, Dr. Emily Backes of Milwaukee, Wisc., Bethany (Chad) Hageman of Ames, Anna Grace Backes of Galveston, Texas, Jamie (Angie) Avery-Bailey of Des Moines, and Luke Stalzer of Marshalltown; as well as four great nephews, Jorrell, Maxxon, Lincoln, and Preston; and a host of friends. In death John rejoins his parents, Clifford Stalzer and Rosie Mann.