John Ward Obituary

John T. Ward—husband, father, and attorney died April 11, 2025, surrounded by family.

He was born to Ted and Florence Ward on October 19, 1940, Knoxville, Iowa and raised on a farm which instilled in John a strong work ethic. As a member of 4-H, he showed cattle at the Marion County Fair. John attended Lincoln School, a one room country schoolhouse through 8th grade. The school was on a country road across from the Eden Methodist Church that John attended growing up. Next to the church is the Lincoln Cemetery where generations of his family are buried. He graduated from Knoxville High School.

He earned a BA and then a law degree in 1964 from Drake University, Des Moines. The law profession became his life’s work. He cut his professional teeth as a clerk for Wisdom, Sullivan & Golden Law Firm, now Sullivan & Ward. The Des Moines based firm became his workplace for his entire 56-year legal career. Eventually, becoming president and CEO of Sullivan & Ward, a position he held until he retired at the age of 80. John’s love of the law provided him with a great sense of satisfaction.

Early in his career, John carved a niche in the rural electric cooperative industry. He became the trusted legal counsel and a national seminar instructor, as well as a friend and mentor, to hundreds of rural co-op directors and leaders across Iowa and the country. John was proud of his involvement in the 1975 licensing of the Duane Arnold Energy Center, Iowa’s only nuclear power plant. He was also proud to have assisted electric cooperatives with mergers and consolidations that continue to benefit member-consumers. In 2022, John was lauded for his decades of service in the cooperative industry when he was inducted into the Iowa Cooperative Hall of Fame. He was also recognized on numerous occasions by The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association for his work in support of them.

John was a member of the Iowa and Polk County Bar Association and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of America. He was President of the West Des Moines School Board, long-time member of the D.M. Rotary Club, D.M.Golf and Country Club, and Des Moines Embassy Club.

Never the loudest voice in the room, he led and listened in a dignified manner. He was known for his wry sense of humor and his impeccable dress. He enjoyed nothing more than savoring a glass of wine over a fine meal out, yet he was equally content hosting a casual Kansas City Chiefs game watch at home with his wife Dana. He had many pet dogs over the years, and he would joke about needing to “feed the livestock”.

Like with his work, John took great pride in his children and stepchildren. John is survived by his wife Dana Petrowsky Ward of West Des Moines; children Wendy Ward of Wichita, Kansas, and Tom Ward of Parker, Colorado; stepchildren Chelsea (Nilo) Reynolds and Ethan (Peter) Reynolds, both of Los Angeles, step daughter, Melissa (Luke) Werner of Fenton, Missouri; brother Ted (Mary Ann) Ward of Knoxville; and sister Mary Roach of West Des Moines, and sister in law, Patrice (Kurt) Paulsen.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Pat Ward; stepson Todd Petrowsky; and brother-in-law Tom Roach.

A celebration of life will be held Monday, May 5, 2025, at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

A very special thanks to the staff at Cedar Ridge Village, West Des Moines for their kindness and care during his last year of life.

John's service will be live streamed from the church on Monday, May 5, 2025 just before 11:00am by going to: https://wdm.lutheranchurchofhope.org/funeral-livestream/.

ILES DUNN'S CHAPEL

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