John C. Porter, 73, of Austin, Minnesota, passed away Saturday, March 23, 2019, surrounded by his family at Timberdale Trace Memory Care in Owatonna, Minnesota.

John Clair was born May 14, 1945, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Kenneth Dale and Ruth (Larson) Porter. He graduated with the Class of 1963 from East High School in Des Moines. John continued his education at Grandview College in Des Moines and Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri. He served his country in the U.S. Army and, following his honorable discharge, continued his service in the U.S. Army Reserves.

On May 31, 1969, he was united in marriage to Joan J. Niemeyer in Des Moines. John had a long career in the meatpacking industry. His career took the family to various communities in Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri. In 1989, John and Joan moved to Austin, where John he took the position of plant engineer at Quality Pork Processors. In 2000, he completed his A.A.S. degree from Riverland Community College in Austin. Following his retirement from Quality Pork Processors, John served as a maintenance employee for St. Edward Catholic Church in Austin.

John was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed shooting pool. He was a lifelong fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chicago Cubs, and Green Bay Packers. John was a longtime member of St. Edward Catholic Church, Austin American Legion Post 91, the Austin Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 703, and was a lifetime member North American Hunting Club.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan Porter of Austin; daughters, Julia (David) Erchoff-Costet of Spring Grove, Minnesota, Jennifer (Scott) Willey of Fairfax, Virginia, and Jacqueline Porter of Austin; grandchildren, Meghan and Brian Willey and Alleen Erchoff-Costet; siblings, Craig Porter of Des Moines and Carolyn (Gary) Moorehead of Raleigh, North Carolina; brothers-in-law, Richard (Robin) Niemeyer of Indianola, Iowa, and Edward (Linda) Niemeyer of Chandler, Arizona; and nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, K. Dale and Ruth Porter.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at St. Edward Catholic Church with Father Jim Steffes officiating. Olaf B. Damm VFW Post 1216 and Austin American Legion Post 91 will perform military rites. The Porter Family will greet friends from 4-6 p.m. on Friday, March 29, 2019, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary. Visitation will continue for one hour before the service on Saturday at the church. Interment will be in the Reinbeck City Cemetery in Reinbeck, Iowa.