Max H. Worthington

Max H. Worthington, 89, born July 25, 1930, in Pleasantville, went to be with the Lord and his loved ones, and friends in heaven at his home in rural Newton, June 20, 2020.

Max grew up in rural Pleasantville with his father, Howard and his mother, Ethel, along with three brothers and two sisters. He attended school and lived in Pleasantville until moving to rural Newton in 1959. Max married his wife, Donna, in 1958.

Max was a lifelong farmer in the Newton area. Max was very sociable and received great joy from his jobs, as a lake patrol officer at Lake Red Rock, as board president and then general manager of the Jasper County Water Association, as a charter bus driver for Hawkeye Stages and as a Jasper County Supervisor for two terms. Max served as a Deacon and Elder at the Monroe Presbyterian Church.

In his early years, Max played catcher for a fastpitch softball team at Percy. Later in life, Max enjoyed working on the farm, driving the combine and helping make hay. Max was a morning person rising at 4:30 a.m. every day to be the first in the door at Newton Family Restaurant where he met his friends for breakfast and visiting with the other customers. Max enjoyed gardening especially growing tomatoes so he could bless people with fresh garden tomatoes. Each year he would raise between 80 and 100 tomato plants and give most of the harvest away. Max loved to drive, making many trips to Sam’s Club and his favorite, Mill’s Fleet Farm. He would never say no to making a repair parts run for Brad no matter how far it was. Max and Donna enjoyed going for drives, many times stopping at one of their favorite restaurants, including his favorite, the Cratty Shack in Colfax. Max and Donna enjoyed traveling, visiting every one of the 50 states through their life together. Max had a yellow lab named Jack that he enjoyed immensely and would often take him along for rides.

Those left to honor Max’s legacy include his wife, Donna; his two daughters, Becky Vrban of Englewood, Colo., and Cindy (Jerry) Webster of Tucson, Ariz.; three sons, Dwight “Pete” (Becky) Worthington of Aurora, Colo., Joel (Karen) Worthington and Brad (Michele) Worthington, both of Newton; his brother, Allen “Craig” (Elaine) Worthington of Ames; his sister, Roseann (Dave) Johnson of Columbia, Mo.; and his sister-in-law, Sheri Downs of Pleasant Hill; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends. Max was proceeded in death by his son, Douglas in childbirth; his father and mother, Howard and Ethel; his brothers, Carroll and Larry; his sister, Shirly Crane; his brother-in-law, Richard “Dick” Downs; his grandson, Efrain Worthington; and extended family members.

A family only funeral will be Saturday at the Pence-Reese Funeral home. A Facebook broadcast of the service will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 27 on the Pence Reese Funeral Home and Cremation Services Facebook page. A drive-by visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 26 at the Worthington home at 5005 E. 36th St. S. Please approach from the north only. Memorial contributions may be made to Newton Christian School or the Monroe Presbyterian Church.