Jack Sheldon Bates

Jack Sheldon Bates, 84, of Tama, passed away Sunday, November 14, 2010 at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Funeral Services will be held Thursday, November 18, 2010 at 10:30 AM at Christ United Methodist Church Worship Center in Toledo with Pastor Brian Oliver officiating. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Toledo. Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 17, 2010 from 5-7 PM at Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home in Tama. Jack was born on February 27, 1926, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the son of Aaron and Verna (Tessney) Bates. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he was in the 321st Military Police Criminal Investigation Detachment. Jack was a graduate of East Central University in Ada, OK. He married Ruby Ellen McCann on April 18, 1944 and there were three children born to this marriage, twin daughters and a son. They divorced in 1970. On October 27, 1979, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Barnett Leonard in Tama. Jack retired from Philtex Chemical Company, which is a division of Phillips Petroleum Company. He was a member of the American Legion and the Lions Club for many years. Jack enjoyed gardening and after his retirement in 1986, he loved traveling. He had a passion for flying and had several airplanes over the years, the last one being a Mooney, which he was particularly fond of. Preceding him in death were his parents; a son, Jackie Aaron Bates; a step-son, Terry Leonard; and one brother, Keith Bates. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth of Tama; twin daughters, Carolyn Howell of Frederick, OK and Catheryn Chandler of Lawton, OK; and children, Brenda Lukasko of Cedar Rapids, Nancy (Mike) Purk of Toledo and Sharon Leonard of Toledo; his grandchildren, Jay Howell, Kyle Howell, Jeremy Bevel, Dawnielle Moore, Tammy Fuller, L.D. Leonard, Eric Leonard, Daniel Leonard, Marshall Leonard, Shawn Leonard, Brice Lukasko, Brooke Baker, Michael Purk II, Maja Evans and David Campbell Jr.; and twenty-one great-grandchildren. A memorial fund has been established.