J H Honea (Ho nee) was born in Forest City, Missouri on June 30, 1934 to James Henderson and Ethel (Johnson) Honea. J attended School in Craig Missouri and in 1953 enlisted in the navy and was a heavy equipment operator overseas for the Seabees. He was honorably discharged in 1957.

J married Mary Lou De Long in Sidney Iowa on August 09, 1956. They shared most of their lives together in Iowa and Missouri where they raised their seven children.

J had many jobs throughout his lifetime. He was a self-taught masonry, carpenter, electrician, plumber, and mechanic. J was a heavy equipment operator for Fremont County in the daytime, and farmed at night for over fifteen years in the Sidney and Hamburg areas. He managed a large auto dealership and was also a member of the reserve police force in McMinnville Oregon when he and Mary lived there for a short time. He ran his own service station and auto repair shop in Sidney Iowa. J bought a semi-truck and drove for many years across the country with Mary or his son J. J., riding along for company. J enjoyed driving truck very much and always had an exciting story to share. Before retiring in 2001, J spent his last years of working in Mound City, Missouri as a City Council member, Police Commissioner, and dispatcher for the Mound City Police and Rural Fire Department. Before leaving the Mound City area, J had a very successful construction business he owned with his son, J. J.  Shortly after retiring, J and Mary moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, where he spent his final years.

J loved his wife and children very much and worked very hard to support and help them in any way he could. He also enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren immensely. J enjoyed driving his stock car, coon hunting, and volunteering at the Sidney Iowa Rodeo with a few of his buddies and his brother-in-law. But mostly J was a family man and loved it when his whole bunch would get together. 

J was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, James and Henderson, two sisters, Lula and Ethel. He is survived by his wife, Mary of Shenandoah IA, 6 daughters Marcy and husband Bob Chapman of Nebraska City, NE; Nita and husband Randy Fichter of Shenandoah, IA; Tweed and husband Doug Gorman of Mound City, MO; Kelley and husband, Brett Burke of Cameron, MO; Gina and husband Jerry Rosa of Madrid IA; Dawn and husband Mike Rossa of Shenandoah IA; and a son, J.J. and wife Mandy of Mound City, MO, 20 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, two sisters, Lileth and husband Joe Kahoe, and Goldie Parkhurst all of Hamburg, IA, numerous nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends.      

Graveside services will be 2:00 PM Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at Grandview Cemetery near Sidney, IA with Fr. Vern Smith of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shenandoah officiating. Visitation will be open from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Tuesday at the Crawford-Marshall Funeral Chapel in Sidney, IA with the casket to remain closed. Graveside Military Rites will be by the Williams-Jobe-Gibson American Legion Post #128 of Sidney and memorials will go to the family. The Crawford-Marshall Funeral Chapel in Sidney, IA is in charge of arrangements.