John R. Wilson

John Richard Wilson, one of nine children of Edith Iola (Ridlen) and John Wesley Wilson, was born on June 7, 1920 in the family home, northeast of Hastings, Iowa.A John was born in the house built by his parents in 1905 and on the farm that John's grandparents, Anna and William B. Wilson, had established in 1856.A John grew up in the Wesley Chapel neighborhood and was a member of the Wesley Chapel Church.A He attended Benton Country School through the 8th grade.

During WW II, John served in the U.S. Marine Corps.A He was in the Second Marine Division, in the Pacific Theater of Operations at Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, and at Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas.A On his return to the States in January 1945, John was a Small Arms Instructor at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.A During the war years, his future bride, Mary Elizabeth Ann Hricko, was employed in the War Department, Chief of Engineers Office in Washington, D.C.A On June 1, 1946, John and "Betty" were united in marriage at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C.A

The couple returned to Hastings, Iowa to live and farm the "home place."A Their marriage was blessed with two children, John Robert and Jean Marie.A John was a life-long farm owner and operator.A He and Betty were active members of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Glenwood, Iowa.A They had been married 52 years at the time of Betty's death on March 3, 1999.A

John continued to live at their home and remain active in the church and community.

John was preceded in death by his parents; wife Betty; son John Robert Wilson in 1991; brothers Harold Wilson and wife Elsie, Ben Wilson and wife Delia, Marion Wilson and wife Evelyn; sisters, Lois Yates and husband Floyd, Nellie Wilkinson and husband Wink, and Elva Nyren and husband Eric; and brothers-in-law, Homer Pedersen and Charles Wayne Miller.A

John is survived by his daughter, Jean Marie Curtis and husband Gary of Omaha, NE; granddaughter Michelle Christine (Longa) Karpin and husband Cory of San Luis Obispo, CA and grandson, Jon Michael Longa of Boulder, CO; daughter-in-law Barbara Wilson of Corvallis, OR; sisters, Tacye Pedersen of Denison, IA and Elizabeth Ann "Beth" Miller of Golden, CO; 2 great grandchildren, Rowan Karpin and Simone Karpin; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.

A memorial fund has been established.