John Wallace Dailey was born June 4, 1927 in rural Ringgold County, Iowa to Clarence and Florence Page Dailey. He graduated from Tingley High School in 1945. On July 17, 1948, he married Dorris A. Mathany at the Methodist parsonage in Mt. Ayr, Iowa. To this union, seven children were born. John was a truck driver, bridge construction worker, and a farmer. He retired in 1987 from Garst Seed Company in Coon Rapids, Iowa, and then worked part-time for Garst until 1989.

John enjoyed working with the 4-H extension office, the John Deere Two-Cylinder Club and was a member of the Bayard United Methodist Church. John enjoyed spending time chatting with friends, playing cards and was very active with his many grandchildren. His hobby of making things from old farm equipment parts made many people happy as he often gave these creations away.

John is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dorris of Bayard. His son John "Jack" Dailey Jr. & his wife, Beverly of Albion, Nebraska; daughters, June Wright of Independence, Missouri, and Jerry Knobbe and her husband, Joe of Coon Rapids, Iowa. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, a brother, George Dailey and wife Alverta of Maloy, Iowa and two sisters, Lucy Maudlin of Rockport, Missouri and Mary Detloff of North Platte, Nebraska, 3 brothers-in-law and 7 sister in-laws, many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews, two aunts and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Florence Dailey, Dorris' parents, Francis & Lula Mathany, 4 children, Francis Verle in 1950, James Edward in 1960, and Lucy Jane and Lila Jean in 1962, an infant brother, Joe, a nephew, Paul Dailey, 4 brothers-in-law and his son-in-law, Ed Forkner.

He passed away at The New Homestead nursing home in Guthrie Center, Iowa at the age of 80 years, 5 months, and 27 days old.