John Eskew, 89, of Atlantic, Iowa, died Friday, January 15, 2021, at Cass County Memorial Hospital in Atlantic.
John was born in Shenandoah, Iowa on May 4, 1931. His parents were Jake and Florence (McWiliams) Eskew. During his youth he lived on farms in Fremont County. He graduated from Farragut High School in 1948 and from Tarkio College in 1952. In 1957 he received a Master’s Degree in Educational Psychology and Counseling from the University of Northern Colorado. He then completed advanced studies at the University of South Dakota and other universities.
John served in the U.S. Army from September 1952 through June 1954. He was a personnel management specialist at the Provost Marshall General Center at Camp Gordon, Georgia and was a sergeant at the time of his honorable discharge from the service. On June 19, 1954 he married Waunita Scott in Orient, Iowa and the two of them started their careers in education in Stanton, Iowa that fall. In 1957 they moved to Moville, Iowa where he was high school principal at Woodbury Central High School. In 1960 they moved to Atlantic, Iowa where John was director of guidance at the high school until his retirement in 1997. In 2004 he went back to the high school and was employed for two more years as a counselor.
He was a lifetime member of the National Educational Association as well as a member of the Iowa State Educational Association and the Iowa Personnel and Guidance Association. He belonged to the Atlantic chapter of the Lions Club and served as president in 2004-2005. John was a member of the Atlantic First United Methodist Church and served in a number of leadership positions over the years. He also served on the Atlantic Library Board and was president of that board for one year. His hobbies included photography, gardening and travel.
He is survived by his son, David Eskew and his wife Deborah of Ashburn, Virginia; his two granddaughters, Haley Teves and Sydney Eskew of Ashburn, Virginia and a number of cousins, nieces and nephews. John was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Rex and Robert; one sister, Lola; and his wife of 57 years, Waunita.
The family will be hosting a Celebration of Life Memorial service and luncheon at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 17, 2021, at the First United Methodist Church in Atlantic.
Cards can be sent to Dave Eskew @ 609 Talmadge Court SE, Leesburg, VA 20175, and if anyone would like to give a memorial in John’s name, please send it directly to the general endowment fund of the Atlantic First United Methodist Church.
Roland Funeral Service is caring for John’s family and his arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.
