Kenneth James Wilson
December 21, 1924 — December 23, 2002
Kenneth James Wilson, 78, of Coggon, died Monday, December 23, 2002, in Anamosa Care Center, following a short illness. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday, December 28, 2002, at United Parish Church in Coggon by the Rev. James King. Burial: Jordan?s Grove Cemetery, rural Central City with military rites. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday at Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Central City.
Surviving are his wife of fifty-five years, Valeta; two daughters, Ellen N. Jones McElmeel and husband Steve of Cedar Rapids and Dixie L DeSotel and friend Paul Henle of Shellsburg; a son, James F. Wilson of Hiawatha; a granddaughter, Julie L. Jones and a great-granddaughter, Taylor Crumes, both of Cedar Rapids.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents.
Kenneth was born the only child of Thomas J. and Nola Burlingham Wilson on December 21, 1924, at Toledo, Iowa. On August 16, 1947, he was married to Valeta Gintert at Zion Lutheran Church parsonage in Shellsburg, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943 to 1946 as a heavy equipment operator in the South Pacific Theater. He saw action on New Guinea, The Leyte Gulf landing, the Lingayen Gulf landing, Manila City liberation, Corregidor liberation and Baguio City liberation. He also spent time in Kyushu, Japan. He was a charter member of the Central City Amvets.
Kenneth spent most of his adult life in the Coggon and Central City area as a long-distance semi-truck driver. The companies he drove for were; Pratt Truck Line of Coggon, Vogt Trucking of Shellsburg, Garber Trucking of Van Horne, Fehrle Trucking, Kacena Company and Linn County Handicapped Systems, all of Cedar Rapids. He retired in 1985.
Kenny enjoyed spending time with his family, especially if there was a picnic or a barbeque involved. One of his favorite past times was watching stock car races, both in person and on television. He also enjoyed horseback riding, square dancing, motorcycle riding and flying.
A memorial fund has been established in Kenny?s memory.
Surviving are his wife of fifty-five years, Valeta; two daughters, Ellen N. Jones McElmeel and husband Steve of Cedar Rapids and Dixie L DeSotel and friend Paul Henle of Shellsburg; a son, James F. Wilson of Hiawatha; a granddaughter, Julie L. Jones and a great-granddaughter, Taylor Crumes, both of Cedar Rapids.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents.
Kenneth was born the only child of Thomas J. and Nola Burlingham Wilson on December 21, 1924, at Toledo, Iowa. On August 16, 1947, he was married to Valeta Gintert at Zion Lutheran Church parsonage in Shellsburg, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943 to 1946 as a heavy equipment operator in the South Pacific Theater. He saw action on New Guinea, The Leyte Gulf landing, the Lingayen Gulf landing, Manila City liberation, Corregidor liberation and Baguio City liberation. He also spent time in Kyushu, Japan. He was a charter member of the Central City Amvets.
Kenneth spent most of his adult life in the Coggon and Central City area as a long-distance semi-truck driver. The companies he drove for were; Pratt Truck Line of Coggon, Vogt Trucking of Shellsburg, Garber Trucking of Van Horne, Fehrle Trucking, Kacena Company and Linn County Handicapped Systems, all of Cedar Rapids. He retired in 1985.
Kenny enjoyed spending time with his family, especially if there was a picnic or a barbeque involved. One of his favorite past times was watching stock car races, both in person and on television. He also enjoyed horseback riding, square dancing, motorcycle riding and flying.
A memorial fund has been established in Kenny?s memory.
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