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Photo of John H. Threlkeld

John H. Threlkeld

2/8/1915 - 4/30/1996


Obituary


John Halbert Threlkeld, 81, passed away Tuesday, April 30, 1996, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt, Iowa.

John, the son of Robert and Agnes (Criger) Threlkeld, was born on February 8, 1915, at Chariton, Iowa. He graduated from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids and attended Coe College where he was a member of Delta Phi Epsilon fraternity.

He was united in marriage to Dorothy M. Stritesky at Cedar Rapids in 1939.  John was employed with the Wilson Packing Company in Cedar Rapids, Knaus Trucking in Cedar Rapids, Dragoun Transfer & Storage in Ames, Knaus Trucking in Davenport, Eagle Grove & Kansas City, and later with U.S. Chemical in Kansas City & Britt.  In 1949, the family moved to Britt.  In 1959, they established the Britt Tech Corporation in Britt, Iowa, and twenty-four foreign countries.  In 1961, he was granted a U.S. patent for high pressure washers and also was granted patents in 24 foreign countries.  In 1971, they began manufacturing high pressure washers for John Deere private label account.  1975, they celebrated the production of their 100,00th high pressure washer and in 1981 John was named U.S. Small Businessman of the Year for the state of Iowa.  In 1989, the business was sold to Fountain Industries Company of Albert Lea, MN.

John served as a Boy Scout leader, an original board member on the Britt Country Club, served on BIDCO and was a member of the Rotary Club.  John's hobbies included woodworking (making furniture, cupboards, a boat which the family named "DARN OL" and a organ), playing the organ, photography, boating and golfing.  He was an avid reader and enjoyed vacationing in Hawaii.

John is survived by his wife, Dorothy M. Threlkeld, his son Dennis and his wife, Carolyn and their children, Sue Threlkeld and Becky Threlkeld; his daughter, Carol M. Thompson and her husband, James and their children, Christie Carlo and her husband, James and their children, Timothy, Stephanie Thompson, Dough Thompson and Rob Thompson; two brothers, Don Threlkeld of Forest City and Jim Threlkeld of Punta Gorda, Florida; one sister, Peg Todd of Williamsburg, VA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.