John Lewis Willison 1910-2001

WILLISON, OTTE

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 9/16/2015 at 17:31:52

John Lewis Willison, 90, of Knoxville, formerly of Morley, died Sunday, June 17, 2001, in Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Knoxville, after a long illness. Services: 1 p.m. Friday, Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa, by the Rev. Steve Pike. Burial: Hopkinton Cemetery, Hopkinton. Friends may call two hours before the service Friday.

Survivors include a sister, Loraine Otte of Long Grove.

John Lewis Willison was born Oct. 19, 1910, in Center Junction, Iowa, the son of Harvey and Nina Willison. John graduated from Morley High School and graduated from Lenox College in Hopkinton. He received his B.A. degree from Upper Iowa University and his M.A. degree from Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, Kan. John served three years in the U.S. Army and four years in the Marine Corps. He fought at Iwo Jima and many other campaigns in the Pacific Theater. John taught history at Bennett, Iowa, for five years and at Bradley, Ill., for 20 years. He was a former member of the United Brethren Church, a member of the American Legion and belonged to historical societies in Jackson, Jones, Delaware and Cedar counties.

Gazette, The (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City, IA) - Tuesday, June 19, 2001