John Frederick Marlowe, age 89, legendary local sportswriter affectionately known as “Jack” passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, October 4, 2025, at Clover Ridge Place in Maquoketa.

John Frederick Marlowe was born on April 3, 1936, in Maquoketa, Iowa, to Dillon Frederick and Louise Belle (Beck) Marlowe.  He was educated at Fairfield #1 Rural School and graduated from Maquoketa High School in 1953.

Following high school, Jack first worked as a farmhand and was a partner farming with his father.  He then worked for the Jackson County Survey Crew for four years prior to taking a job with the Maquoketa Sentinel Press Newspaper as the assistant sports editor in 1962.  For the next 55 plus years Jack would cover area sports like no one ever had.  He was widely respected in his field by athletes, coaches, parents, fans, and peers.  He not only became the sports editor for the Maquoketa paper but also the Bellevue Herald Leader for six years.  Through the years he also covered youth activities and had written feature articles for both beef and dairy.

Jack received several awards throughout his career including receiving the Distinguished Service Award from the Iowa Newspaper Association in 1998.  In 2016, he was inducted into the Maquoketa Community High School Hall of Fame, and the Maquoketa Community High School Athletic Complex was named the “Jack Marlowe Athletic Complex” in his honor.

Outside of work, Jack had been a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Spragueville prior to becoming a member of First Lutheran Church in Maquoketa.  He was an avid collector of books on sports and was widely recognized as the go-to person for Maquoketa and area sports records.

The plaque in his honor at the Jack Marlowe Athletic Complex sums up Jack’s life very well: “A 1953 Maquoketa High School Graduate, Hall of Fame Sportswriter and lifelong resident of Jackson County who dedicated his life to highlighting the accomplishments of others while avoiding the spotlight for himself.”

Jack is survived by several cousins.  He was preceded in death by his parents.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, October 10, 2025, at First Lutheran Church in Maquoketa.  Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 P.M., Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa.  Burial will be at the Spragueville, Iowa Cemetery.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church, or the Community Foundation of Jackson County.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.CarsonAndSon.com.