Artis W.  “A.J.”  Lathan

Artis W.  “A.J.”  Lathan, Jr., age 57, of Storm Lake, Iowa died at his home on Sunday, July 3, 2005.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, July 9, 2005 at 10:30 am at the Church of Christ in Storm Lake, with Pastor Jack Barber officiating.  Burial will be in the Storm Lake Cemetery with military rites by AMVETS Post #66. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Friends may call at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake on Friday, June 8, 2005 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., where the family will be present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Artis “A.J.”  was born August 25, 1947 in McNary, Arizona to Artis Lathan, Sr. and Clementine Lathan.  He was baptized in the Church of Christ in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  A.J. graduated from Long Beach Poly High School in Long Beach, California in 1965. Following high school A.J. enlisted in the United States Navy on September 2, 1966 and served his country with honor until his release from active service in 1968. He was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star and a National Defense Service Medal. A.J. continued his service to his country in the Naval Reserves through November 1970.  He then went back to school at Santa Monica, California City College, where he graduated in 1978 with a technical degree in computer science.

After coming to Iowa, A. J. was united in marriage to Alice Bannister Spooner on August 22, 2001 by Judge Gailey in his office. A. J. was employed by Tyson, Inc. as a boxmaker.  He was currently a member of the Church of Christ in Storm Lake, where he was a deacon, a member of the Alta V.F. W. and AMVETS Post 66 in Storm Lake.

A.J. enjoyed fishing, playing video games and watching TV. He loved to play cards and dominoes. A.J. took joy in attending church and liked to spend time with his family after church eating, praying and visiting. Family was important to A.J. and he enjoyed traveling to see his family members living away from Storm Lake, and he loved to play with his granddaughter. A.J. died just a day and a half after his father-in-law, Charles Bannister passed away, reaching out his loving hand to join with Charles to walk through the gates of Heaven together.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Alice of Storm Lake; children: Rachel (Marky) Tellis of Atlanta, Georgia, Davion Lathan  and Patrice Lathan, both in California; Charles Spooner and special friend, Jennifer Loriditch of Alta, Iowa, Jonathon Spooner of Storm Lake and Miranda (Nicholas) Winkleman of Storm Lake;  his grandchildren: Joycelynn, Kiyona, Porcshé,  Daquan, Tavion, Dante, and Dominique;  brother Richard (Samantha) Lathan of Storm Lake; sister Susie Newkirk of Sacramento, California; mother-in-law Caroline Bannister of Storm Lake; brothers-in-law: Lloyd Bannister of Storm Lake and Dave (Shanda) Bannister of Storm Lake; sisters-in-law Jessie McCoy of Compton, California, Algeria Lathan of Los Angeles, California, Charlene (Jeffrey) Ulrich of Fonda, Iowa, Teresa Handy and special friend Micheal Noe of Waterloo, Iowa, and Melissa Bannister of Storm Lake; other family members Rena McCoy, Aletha McCoy, Lisa (David) Lathan, Chrissy, Michael and Mondrell, Shanda Handy, Jessica Handy, Brandi Handy, Ricky Handy, Justin Howard, Joshua Peters, Tara Peters, Autumn Ulrich and Whitney Bannister; and a host of other family and friends.

A. J. was preceded in death by his parents, Artis, Sr. and Clementine Lathan; his brothers: Nathanial, Seymour and Benjamin; brother-in-law Edwin L. Newkirk; and his father-in-law, Charles Bannister.