Vet Dr. Jack Gochenour Retiring, No Foolin
Jenna Comes, Mapleton Press
For the Harrison County Times-Reporter
Originally Jack Gochenour was thinking about being a medical doctor.
Then he read two of James Herriot's books, All Creatures Great and Small, and All Things Bright and Beautiful.
“The books detailed James Herriot's early veterinary career in Yorkshire, England,” he said. “Most of my classmates in veterinary school had also read these books, and were influenced by the heartwarming stories of a country vet and his love of animals.”
Gochenour and his family lived on the family farm (where his mother still lives), 10 miles north of Missouri Valley. He graduated from Logan-Magnolia Community Schools.
“Growing up, we always had a menagerie of pets and livestock on the farm. We raised cattle and hogs, we had dogs and puppies, cats, and rabbits,” he said. “My dad even short-term adopted a stray emu and a wild turkey at different times.
When Gochenour graduated from Iowa State University Veterinary School in 1983, he first worked in Wisconsin and northeast Iowa for five years, treating mostly dairy cattle.
“When we had our son (John in 1986) and daughter (Sherry in 1988), we realized we wanted to move closer to family, and I was ready to start my own practice,” he said.
Missouri Valley was the perfect location, so they moved here in 1988. The original clinic was next to their house across from the swimming pool in the Willow Park area of Missouri Valley.
“When we started the clinic, I treated pets, cattle, horses, pigs, sheep and most any kind of animal that people brought to us,” Gochenour said. “As the practice grew and changed, I began to specialize in pets, and have enjoyed small animal practice since 2007.”
He added when they first moved to town, they were lucky in that there was an obvious need for a veterinarian in the community, and he was able to start practicing right away.
With the help of their families, they started remodeling the interior of the quonset building next to their house.
“Although the quonset started life as a machine shed, our fathers framed and drywalled the interior, and many local tradespeople finished out the space,” Gochenour said.
When they opened in 1988, Jack and his wife, Kris, ran the clinic for a year, with the "help" of their boisterous toddler and baby.
“Kris has continued to work as needed in the office, and we have had many wonderful employees as well. We hired Deanna Dewaele Small in 1990, followed by her daughters, Chris Whitted, and Joanna Barnard,” Gochenour said. “Our kids also were routinely on call, helping us walk dogs, rub newborn puppies, work in the office, or assist on livestock calls.”
Cindy Norton came on board in 2011, and has been with the Gochenours’ ever since.
One major event of their lives and career was when their home and clinic were flooded in May of 2007.
“A levy broke north of town, and within 45 minutes, most of our property was flooded by waist-high water, destroying the interior of the clinic and severely damaging our home. As difficult as this time was, we were able to get through it due to family support and the many volunteers who showed up, day after day, to help us dig out of the foul-smelling mud and debris,” he said. “Our community supported us in countless ways throughout that summer. We were able to set up a temporary location in a vacant local church, and thus able to continue practicing that summer.”
They bought the former Dr. Wilson's office in downtown Missouri Valley and after remodeling, moved the clinic in November of 2007.
“We will never forget and be forever grateful to our family, community, and the kindness of strangers for helping us get through this challenging time of our lives,” he added.
The Gochenours’ have had many clients who have turned into friends over the years.
He noted, “They value and love their pets as family members, and I have appreciated and enjoyed helping them with their beloved pets' care. I am grateful for what has been a very rewarding career.”
