Ronald LeRoy Wilson, age 89, of Adair, Iowa passed away Friday October 6, 2023, at the VA Medical Center in Des Moines, IA.
Ron was born on May 3, 1934, in Bear Grove township, Iowa to LeRoy and Anna (Rattenborg) Wilson. He grew up in the Lewis, Atlantic, and Wiota areas and Graduated from Wiota High School in 1952. He joined the Army on April 3,1956. On May 18, 1957, he married Lillian Frances Phillips. They resided in Georgia while Ron finished his time in the Army, he was honorably discharged on April 2, 1958. They returned to Anita, and he worked various jobs in the area. They moved to Adair in 1968 and owned and operated the DX station and tank wagon service until 1983. Ron then went into business with his son, Russ, and together they ran Wilson’s Plumbing and Heating in Adair for over 30 years.
Ron enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. One of his favorite things to do was play cards, especially Hucklebuck. When playing he would always say “If your hand is worth 2, then you can make 3”, but this didn’t always work. He was always up to playing a game. After retirement he started wood carving and enjoyed making replicas of items from his past like his tank wagon and bucket truck. He did this even after shingles took his sight. He was also a member of the Anita American Legion and loved to play Bingo every Saturday night.
Ron was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian F. Wilson, granddaughter, Tori Barker, parents, Anna and LeRoy Wilson, and brother, Richard Wilson.
Ron is survived by his son, Russ and wife Tammy of Adair, and daughters Ronda and husband Lonny Barker of Casey, Becky and husband Danny Claussen of Adair, Jamaica and husband Mike Reed of Adair, and Keisha Nguyen and fiancé Jacob Watson of Bedford, as well as eleven grandchildren; Elizabeth Barker and fiancé Matt LeClair of Grimes, TJ Claussen and wife Rylie of Adair, Courtney Claussen of Menlo, Benjamin Wilson and fiancé Kelsey Schoon of Omaha NE, Jake Reed and Majda Hasic of Waterloo, Josh Reed and fiancé Kahlan Curry of Waterloo, Keira Reed of Adair, Austin Nguyen-Schnormeier of Omaha NE, William and Annabelle Watson of Bedford and great granddaughter Lyllah Reed of Waterloo.
A visitation with the family present will be held on Monday, October 16th, 2023, in the reception hall in the lower level of the Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Adair. Military service and honors will be given at 11am, Tuesday, October 17th at the Iowa Veteran’s Cemetery near Van Meter, Iowa with Rev. Kyle Fever officiating.
The Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair is caring for the Wilson family at this time, and condolences can be left at schmidtfamilyfh.com or mailed to P.O Box 523 – Atlantic, IA 50022
