John (Jack) W. VanNatta Sr., 83, internationally known figure in the field of breeding and judging Hereford cattle, died at 1:15 p.m. Saturday in St. Elizabeth Hospital, Lafayette, where he had been a patient since July 17. He resided on his 1,000-acre Valley View Ranch on Rt. 1. Mr. VanNatta was born into the Hereford industry. His immediate ancestors were linked closely to the introduction and development of Herefords in the Midwest. He had bred prize cattle for over 50 years and had achieved a nationwide reputation in the show ring as an exhibitor and judge.
His Herefords appeared in major cattle shows throughout the country and won awards at the International Livestock Exposition and the Denver Stock Show. They also won championships at the Kentucky, Nebraska and Indiana State Fairs and the Kansas City Royal.
TEXAS RANCHER
Born in Tippecanoe County, he graduated from Purdue University in 1902. He went to Texas where he and his two brothers operated a 100,000-acre ranch on which they ran 8,000 to 10,000 brood cows from 1903 until he returned to Indiana in 1909 and began his own operations.
Mr. VanNatta, who affectionately was called “Gentleman John” by his friends, was elected president of the American Hereford Association in 1959. His uncle, W. S. VanNatta, served as president of this organization in 1882. His father, J. H. VanNatta, purchased a registered Hereford bull, Request 5694, from the firm of Fowler and VanNatta in 1880. It was the first registered Hereford in Tippecanoe County. From that bull came the now prized VanNatta Herefords.
HONORED BY PURDUE
He was a charter member of the National Livestock and Meat Board and served as an association director in 1925. In 1939 he became president of the Lafayette Production Credit Company and served on the executive board for many years.
In 1958 he was presented the “Certificate of Distinction” for “outstanding service to agriculture” by the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association and in 1960 he served as honorary chairman of the Third World Hereford Conference in Kansas City.
He was an honorary member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and member of the Purdue Hoof and Horn Association. He was a member of Lafayette Central Presbyterian Church, Masonic Lodge and Lafayette Elks Lodge 143.
A resident of Tippecanoe County for many years, he was married to Edith Kumler in 1909.
Surviving with the widow are one daughter, Mrs. John H. Goodwin of Greenwich, Conn.; one son, John W. Jr. of Battle Ground: one sister, Mrs. George Baldwin of Walla Walla, Wash.; and one brother, Samuel G. VanNatta of Lafayette.
--Published in Lafayette Journal & Courier July 22, 1963
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His Herefords appeared in major cattle shows throughout the country and won awards at the International Livestock Exposition and the Denver Stock Show. They also won championships at the Kentucky, Nebraska and Indiana State Fairs and the Kansas City Royal.
TEXAS RANCHER
Born in Tippecanoe County, he graduated from Purdue University in 1902. He went to Texas where he and his two brothers operated a 100,000-acre ranch on which they ran 8,000 to 10,000 brood cows from 1903 until he returned to Indiana in 1909 and began his own operations.
Mr. VanNatta, who affectionately was called “Gentleman John” by his friends, was elected president of the American Hereford Association in 1959. His uncle, W. S. VanNatta, served as president of this organization in 1882. His father, J. H. VanNatta, purchased a registered Hereford bull, Request 5694, from the firm of Fowler and VanNatta in 1880. It was the first registered Hereford in Tippecanoe County. From that bull came the now prized VanNatta Herefords.
HONORED BY PURDUE
He was a charter member of the National Livestock and Meat Board and served as an association director in 1925. In 1939 he became president of the Lafayette Production Credit Company and served on the executive board for many years.
In 1958 he was presented the “Certificate of Distinction” for “outstanding service to agriculture” by the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association and in 1960 he served as honorary chairman of the Third World Hereford Conference in Kansas City.
He was an honorary member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and member of the Purdue Hoof and Horn Association. He was a member of Lafayette Central Presbyterian Church, Masonic Lodge and Lafayette Elks Lodge 143.
A resident of Tippecanoe County for many years, he was married to Edith Kumler in 1909.
Surviving with the widow are one daughter, Mrs. John H. Goodwin of Greenwich, Conn.; one son, John W. Jr. of Battle Ground: one sister, Mrs. George Baldwin of Walla Walla, Wash.; and one brother, Samuel G. VanNatta of Lafayette.
--Published in Lafayette Journal & Courier July 22, 1963
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John (Jack) W. VanNatta Sr., 83, internationally known figure in the field of breeding and judging Hereford cattle, died at 1:15 p.m. Saturday in St. Elizabeth Hospital, Lafayette, where he had been a patient since July 17. He resided on his 1,000-acre Valley View Ranch on Rt. 1. Mr. VanNatta was born into the Hereford industry. His immediate ancestors were linked closely to the introduction and development of Herefords in the Midwest. He had bred prize cattle for over 50 years and had achieved a nationwide reputation in the show ring as an exhibitor and judge.
His Herefords appeared in major cattle shows throughout the country and won awards at the International Livestock Exposition and the Denver Stock Show. They also won championships at the Kentucky, Nebraska and Indiana State Fairs and the Kansas City Royal.
TEXAS RANCHER
Born in Tippecanoe County, he graduated from Purdue University in 1902. He went to Texas where he and his two brothers operated a 100,000-acre ranch on which they ran 8,000 to 10,000 brood cows from 1903 until he returned to Indiana in 1909 and began his own operations.
Mr. VanNatta, who affectionately was called “Gentleman John” by his friends, was elected president of the American Hereford Association in 1959. His uncle, W. S. VanNatta, served as president of this organization in 1882. His father, J. H. VanNatta, purchased a registered Hereford bull, Request 5694, from the firm of Fowler and VanNatta in 1880. It was the first registered Hereford in Tippecanoe County. From that bull came the now prized VanNatta Herefords.
HONORED BY PURDUE
He was a charter member of the National Livestock and Meat Board and served as an association director in 1925. In 1939 he became president of the Lafayette Production Credit Company and served on the executive board for many years.
In 1958 he was presented the “Certificate of Distinction” for “outstanding service to agriculture” by the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association and in 1960 he served as honorary chairman of the Third World Hereford Conference in Kansas City.
He was an honorary member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and member of the Purdue Hoof and Horn Association. He was a member of Lafayette Central Presbyterian Church, Masonic Lodge and Lafayette Elks Lodge 143.
A resident of Tippecanoe County for many years, he was married to Edith Kumler in 1909.
Surviving with the widow are one daughter, Mrs. John H. Goodwin of Greenwich, Conn.; one son, John W. Jr. of Battle Ground: one sister, Mrs. George Baldwin of Walla Walla, Wash.; and one brother, Samuel G. VanNatta of Lafayette.
--Published in Lafayette Journal & Courier July 22, 1963
-------------------------
His Herefords appeared in major cattle shows throughout the country and won awards at the International Livestock Exposition and the Denver Stock Show. They also won championships at the Kentucky, Nebraska and Indiana State Fairs and the Kansas City Royal.
TEXAS RANCHER
Born in Tippecanoe County, he graduated from Purdue University in 1902. He went to Texas where he and his two brothers operated a 100,000-acre ranch on which they ran 8,000 to 10,000 brood cows from 1903 until he returned to Indiana in 1909 and began his own operations.
Mr. VanNatta, who affectionately was called “Gentleman John” by his friends, was elected president of the American Hereford Association in 1959. His uncle, W. S. VanNatta, served as president of this organization in 1882. His father, J. H. VanNatta, purchased a registered Hereford bull, Request 5694, from the firm of Fowler and VanNatta in 1880. It was the first registered Hereford in Tippecanoe County. From that bull came the now prized VanNatta Herefords.
HONORED BY PURDUE
He was a charter member of the National Livestock and Meat Board and served as an association director in 1925. In 1939 he became president of the Lafayette Production Credit Company and served on the executive board for many years.
In 1958 he was presented the “Certificate of Distinction” for “outstanding service to agriculture” by the Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association and in 1960 he served as honorary chairman of the Third World Hereford Conference in Kansas City.
He was an honorary member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and member of the Purdue Hoof and Horn Association. He was a member of Lafayette Central Presbyterian Church, Masonic Lodge and Lafayette Elks Lodge 143.
A resident of Tippecanoe County for many years, he was married to Edith Kumler in 1909.
Surviving with the widow are one daughter, Mrs. John H. Goodwin of Greenwich, Conn.; one son, John W. Jr. of Battle Ground: one sister, Mrs. George Baldwin of Walla Walla, Wash.; and one brother, Samuel G. VanNatta of Lafayette.
--Published in Lafayette Journal & Courier July 22, 1963
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Gravesite Details
age 83. Undertaker, Rogers-Myers, Lafayette, Indiana.
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