John E. Northness, 69, of Waterloo, died at his home Friday, Oct. 8, of cancer.

He was born Nov. 12, 1940, in New Hampton, son of Elroy and Leonita Recker Northness. He married Ruth Samec on Jan. 6, 1964, in New Hampton.

Mr. Northness graduated from New Hampton High School in 1959. He had been employed at John Deere for 30 years, retiring in 1996

Survived by: his wife; two sons, John (Gail) and Jason (Lindsey), both of Waterloo; a daughter, Julie (Jim) Romeo of Des Moines; five grandchildren, Steven, Joshua, Brennen, Jayden and Anna; a great-grandson, Ethan; a brother, Kenneth (Rose) of Des Moines; and three sisters, Donna (Syl) Whalen of Eyota, Minn., Karen (George) Snyder of Anamosa and Karol (Fran) Smith of Lourdes; 22 nieces and nephews

Preceded in death by: two brothers-in-law, Charles Wilkes and Richard Samec.