John Arthur Cederberg, 86, passed away September 16, 2020 at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin, KS. God took another good one home.
John was born the third child to John “Walter” and Edith (Glad) Cederberg on a hot day, July 11, 1934 in Oberlin, KS. He went to country school near their family farm in Rawlins County. John was very athletic and loved most sports. When he started high school, he moved to Oberlin and lived with his Aunt Sidna during the week. He loved baseball, football and basketball. After graduation, John went to Kansas State University. That fall he discovered wrestling and competed on the wrestling squad for K-State. He was drafted and entered into the Army in the fall of 1954. John proudly served his country and was stationed in Germany post-war. He played on several of the army’s ball teams while serving. His father needed surgery after two years, so John left the military and came home to farm. When he returned home, he was on active reserves. He was honorably discharged in 1962.
John married Barbara Eckhardt in 1958 in Oberlin. To this union, two daughters were born, Janet and Cynthia. In 1969 John decided to continue his education, first commuting to Colby Community College, and then finally returned to Kansas State. John graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture in 1971. They returned to the farm near Herndon and John farmed and taught agriculture and industrial arts classes in Herndon. In 1975, John was set up on a blind date with Ardythe Slatt by his ex-sister-in-law Corky. They dated a couple of years with a weekly date for prime rib on Saturday night. They were married in McCook, NE July 16,1977, on a blistering hot day. Ardythe and the girls joined the family with all five girls in high/middle school. His life was filled with women and their many school activities. John retired from teaching in 1979 and farmed full time until he retired in 2007, when they moved to Oberlin. John enjoyed having his family at home. He looked forward to playing pinochle and pitch with family and friends. John was baptized on August 19, 1934 and his confirmation was on August 22, 1948. His devotion to Faith Lutheran Church in Oberlin was great and he came to be known as the “Gummi Bear Man” to the grandkids and children at church. He always had a package in his pocket for any hungry child. John was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about 20 years ago and began the long battle. He moved into the Good Samaritan Society Home in Oberlin, January of 2019.
John is survived by his beloved wife, Ardythe, daughters, Janet Cederberg (Ward) Olson, Colorado Springs, CO; Cindy (Ron) Sattler, Herndon; stepdaughters: Diane (Don) Ruppert, McCook, NE; Denise (Larry) Pettera, North Platte, NE; and Renae (Jim) Wolf, Pierre, SD; grandchildren: Tanner (Jolene) Pettera, Eric Sattler, Erin Pettera, Adam Ruppert, Dana (Chase) Juenemann, Derek (Bethany O’Neal) Ruppert, Chloe (Lucas) Brown, Dalton Pettera, Mariah (Taylor Klinitski) Olson, Christa (Eric) Trumbull, Jamie Wolf, Megan Ruppert, Cianna Olson; 9 great-grandchildren: Arlo, Payton, Paycie, Parker, Jayda, Avril, Boston, Presley, and Tate; sister, Margorie (Charles) Lindgren; brother, James (Judy) Cederberg; sister-in-law, Mardelle Gocek; and brother-in-law, Merlin (Rosemary) Anderson.
John was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, stepson, David Slatt; sister, Pauline Mainson and her husband John, and brother-in-law, Walter Gocek.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday, September 19, 2020 at Faith Lutheran Church, Oberlin. The service will be live streamed on Pauls Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Burial with military honors will follow at Oberlin Cemetery at 11:15 am. Visitation will be 12-7:00 pm Friday, September 18, 2020 at Pauls Funeral Home, Oberlin. Family will receive friends from 5-7:00 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to Faith Lutheran Church, Good Samaritan Society, or the Golden Age Center. Condolences may be left at www.paulsfh.com