Legendary rodeo stock contractor and cowboy John Charles Walter, 72, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, January 3, 2015.
John Walter was born on July 3, 1942 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa the son of Raymond John and Mary Rita (Murrin) Walter. John was the oldest of thirteen brothers and sisters and from even a young age, he was a cowboy. He competed in multiple events growing up; riding barebacks, bulldogging steers, and riding bulls. To make some extra money, he was always training horses. You can be sure that every horse he acquired was tried out as a bucking horse. John graduated form Blairstown High School in 1960. After graduating, he was united in marriage to Mary Prestien on July 11, 1962 in Watkins, Iowa. On September 3, 1965, the young couple had their only daughter, Lex Ann. By 1968, he had accumulated 40 head of bucking horses. In that same year, he combined force with a group of partners and formed an amateur rodeo company; Mid States Rodeo Company. John bought out his partners and continued to produce amateur rodeo until 1979 when he bought his professional Rodeo Stock Contractor’s card. For over four decades, he produced hundreds of PRCA, College and High School rodeos. He sent a large number of bucking horses and bulls to the National Finals Rodeo. He was voted stock contractor of the year for the Great Lakes PRC Circuit multiple times. In 1983, he produced a special command performance for the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, in Washington, D.C.

For the past ten years, you would find John everywhere with his sidekick and only grandson Riggin.

‘Walt’ was widely respected in the arena, and well known for his antics and humor outside of the arena. Everyone had a nickname, practical jokes were frequent and all the rough stock cowboys were well aware that they had better not take too long in the chute nodding their heads.

He was a Dad, Papa, Brother, Uncle, Friend and Cowboy to the end. We can all be assured that the rodeos in Heaven are running on time now! Thank you for the memories.

John is survived by his daughter; Lex Anderson and grandson; John Riggin Anderson of Kirksville, MO, siblings, Janet Kelly, Dorothy Franzenburg, Dan Walter, Allen Walter, T.J. Walter, Mary Rita Kromminga, Steven Walter, Roger Walter, Kevin Walter, Mark Walter as well as numerous loving nieces, nephews, in-laws and extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary, granddaughter Dakota, sister Karen, brother Doug, brother-in-law Colin Kelly, nephew Chris Kelly and niece Stephanie Walter.

Public visitation will be held from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville. Funeral services will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Jared Rapp officiating. Interment will follow the service at Indian Hill Cemetery in Gifford, Missouri.

The family would like to invite friends to share in celebration of Walt’s life at the Days Inn in Kirksville directly following the burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials are made to the John Walter Memorial Fund. Memorials may be left at the LaPlata State Bank or at Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.