John Orville Erdman

John Erdman, 55, of Unionville, Missouri, passed away suddenly at this home on Monday, April 27, 2020.

John Orville Erdman was born in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, on May, 12, 1964, the son of Kelly Combs and Shirley Redfeather.  John was later adopted by John and Jan Erdman when he was eight years old.  He was reared in Spencer, Iowa, and graduated from high school.  John moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, in 1986, where he began a work that he did most of his adult life: cooking in restaurants.   He moved to Maryville, Missouri where he worked at the Kawasaki Factory and with a tree trimming crew on the side.  John married Tisch West in Maryville, Missouri, on May 28, 1994, and she survives at home.

John and Tisch moved to Unionville in 2003 where he continued his cooking career in Unionville, working at the Steer Inn Café until it closed, the Sale Barn Café, the East End Café, and the Marina Restaurant at the Lake.  He also worked on the maintenance crew at Lake Thunderhead.  John enjoyed working on all kinds of vehicles – cars, pickup, motorcycles and lawnmowers.   He liked to fish and enjoyed being around people, especially the customers at the places where he worked, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and was a devoted husband.

John is survived by his children: sons Colby Erdman of Kansas City, Missouri, Luke (Jess) Erdman of Shenandoah, Iowa, Jake (Zachary) Erdman-Stark of Unionville, Missouri, and step-son Dustin (Ashley) West of Hedrick, Iowa; and daughter Jessica (John) Klebba of Linn, Missouri.  John is also survived by six grandchildren and five step-grandchildren.  His brothers are James (Janet) Erdman of Sioux Center, Iowa, Robert Erdman of Huron, South Dakota, Edward Martin of Cleveland, Tennessee, and Tomas Erdman of Lenexa, Kansas.  John’s sisters are Ann Degenhardt of Maine, Frances Anderson of Spencer, Iowa, Madonna King of Pocahontas, Arkansas, and Jenny Erdman of Des Moines, Iowa.  John is also survived by his adoptive father, 9 nephews, and 10 nieces.

John’s birth parents and adoptive mother, Jan preceded him in death along with a niece, Brittany Anderson.

John wished to be cremated and a Memorial Service will be held on May 9 ^th , 2020, at 12:30 pm at the American Legion Building in Unionville, MO.  On June 20 ^th , 2020, John’s family will be taking him home for another memorial service to be held in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

Memorials are suggested to The Family and may be entrusted with Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO,  63565.