DAKOTA DUNES - Dr. John Paul Zortman, 74, of Dakota Dunes, SD, passed away Sunday, February 21, 2016, at Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, surrounded by his loved ones.
John was born in Onawa, IA, on January 15, 1942, the son of Howard P. and Helen B. Zortman. He was raised on the family farm just north of Onawa, and graduated from Onawa High School in 1960. John married Landra Kay Lynn on March 3, 1962, at St John's Catholic Church in Onawa.
He served as an aircraft crew chief in the Iowa Air National Guard for seven years (1962-1969), and was a U. S. Air Force veteran with one active duty tour in Vietnam. Upon returning in 1971, he attended and graduated Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, IA, where he was elected Vice President of his graduating class. He practiced Chiropractic medicine in the Sloan, Onawa, and Mondamin, Iowa, area for 43 years.
Survivors include his wife Landra, Dakota Dunes, SD; three daughters, Tammie Zortman DeAnda, Dakota Dunes, SD, Melissa (Randy) Richardson, Springfield, VA, and Teresa Gardner, Salado, TX; five grandchildren, Dena DeAnda, Ashley Fine, Aubrey Richardson, Connor Matthews, and Mattison Matthews; three great grandchildren, Tatum Taylor, Harper Taylor, and Maxwell Fine; one sister Judith (Thomas) Daugherty, Cape Coral, FL, and two brothers, Jerome (Linda) Zortman, Johnston, Iowa, and Jason (Roxie) Zortman, Sioux City, Iowa.
In addition to parents, he was preceded in death by an infant sister Jacqueline Zortman.
Through the years, John enjoyed fine woodworking, home construction, rebuilding custom cars, spending time with immediate family, and farming with his father on the family farms.
He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Onawa and proudly served as a member of the Knights of Columbus.