Howard Curtis Wilson 1924-2011

WILSON, BENEDICT, MANCHESTER, BAKER, TYE, HOLMES, KARNS, WILSON, ROCKHOLD, JONES, DAY, EASLEY, WILCOX, WALTER

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 7/29/2011 at 14:59:05

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa July 13, 2011)

WILSON, Howard Curtis "Hank", 87, of Lineville, Iowa, died on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at the Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Funeral Services were held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, July 11, 2100, at the Greenlee-Middleton Funeral Chapel in Lineville, Iowa, with Pastor Max Carmichael officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Lineville, Iowa.

The family requests memorial contributions to either the Evergreen Cemetery or the Lineville First Responders in lieu of flowers. Contributions may be mailed to the funeral home at PO Box 316, Princeton, MO, 64673.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa July 13, 2011)

HOWARD CURTIS "HANK" WILSON ... Howard Curtis "Hank" Wilson, son of Walter Christian And Emily Juanita [Benedict] Wilson, was born on a farm near Lamoni, Iowa, on February 3, 1924, and passed away on July 6, 2011, at the Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the the age of 87 years.

Howard's parents and family moved to a farm west of Mercer, Missouri, where Howard was raised and was a 1942 graduate of Mercer High School. He worked on the family farm until he entered the U.S. Army in 1943 during World War II. While on leave from the Army, Howard was united in marriage to Helen Manchester on December 31, 1943. Helen preceded him in death on May 4, 2011. He was also preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father-in-law, Leland and Mabel Manchester; one sister, Beneti Baker Tye; and by a nephew, Walter Holmes.

Howard served in Europe during the war and was the driver of the first tank entering Germany. On his return from Europe, he landed in New York the day his first daughter was born on August 6, 1945. He then returned to work the family farm in Mercer County. In 1947, he moved his family to Lineville, Iowa, and worked in a gas station for Lloyd Crecelius. From 1949 until 1950, Howard and his brother-in-law, Jim Baker, drove heavy equipment building a dam in in Ellis, Kansas. In 1951, he began his trucking career in business with Carroll Warnock as "Wilson and Warnock Truck Line", hauling hogs from Carroll's Stockyards in South Lineville, Missouri. In 1967, he leased his truck to Southwest Freight Lines of Kansas City, Missouri, driving for them, and retiring in 1985.

Howard is survived by his three daughters, Sharon Karns (and son-in-law, Steve) of Lineville, Iowa, Judy Wilson (and son-in-law, Lanny Rockhold) of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, and Debra Jones (and son-in-law, Steve) of Des Moines, Iowa; four grandchildren, Sindi Day (and her husband, Tony), Shane Karns (and his fiancee Sue), Carl Jones (and his companion, Keri), and Justin Jones (and his companion, Jennifer); five great-grand-children, Courtney Karns, Randy and Alex Jones, and Parker and Regan Day; one sister, Betty Easley of Kansas City, Kansas; a niece, Shirley Wilcox of Kansas City, Kansas; a sister-in-law, Shirley Walter (and her husband, Larry) of Missoula, Montana; and by other relatives and friends.

Howard was active in the Lineville community, serving on the Lineville City Council, and as a member of the Duncan-Smith American Legion Post #506. He enjoyed dancing, playing cards, shooting pool, and working ion his yard. Howard and Helen have resided in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, for the past few years.