Wilson, John G. – 1904-1973

BOGNA, DECKER, HUSTON, JONES, LEYDENS, MOONEY, WILSON

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 4/22/2015 at 16:19:17

John G. Wilson Dies; Soil Conservationist 30 Years
John G. Wilson, 68, of 217 W. 4th St. S., Jasper County conservationist for more than 30 years, died Saturday evening at the Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.
Funeral services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
The Rev. Francis Bass, pastor of the church, will conduct the services. Burial will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Gibson City, Ill.
Friends may call at the Toland-Wallace Funeral Home after noon today.
Memorial contributions to the Environmental Educational Council will be accepted. Memorials may be left at the funeral home.
Survivors are his wife, Josephine; two daughters, Mrs. Philip (Nancy) Bogna of Granada Hill, Calif., and Mrs. C. L. (Pat) Leydens of Pella; a granddaughter; three grandsons; a brother, Clyde Wilson of Melvin, Ill.; and two sisters, Mrs. Wayne (Mary) Decker of Strawn, Ill., and Mrs. John Luella) Jones of Bloomington, Ill.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a son and a brother.
Mr. Wilson was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Izaak Walton League and Soil Conservation Society of America.
Mr. Wilson, who wrote “Conservation Comments” which has appeared regularly in The Newton Daily News, was presented the Newton Community Education Association’s Layman’s Award this year.
He also was the recipient of the Newton Kiwanis Club distinguished service award in 1956, the Soil Conservation Service certificate of merit in 1960, the 1961 Jasper County Soil Conservation District award, the superior service plaque of the Iowa State Grange in 1966, the Izaak Walton League Iowa divisional plaque in 1966 and the Izaak Walton league conservation award.
Mr. Wilson, who was instrumental in the selection of Jasper County as the site of the 1956 National Field Days, also was active in Future Farmers of America soil judging contests, had cooperated with the 4-H Clubs in roadside erosion control and beautification and assisted in establishment and maintenance of the Children’s Forest.
He had spent much time in the classrooms of the county explaining the importance of conservation of natural resources, organized and promoted the soil conservation speech contest, and conducted tours for sixth grade students.
The son of William G. and Sarah J. Huston Wilson, he was born Nov. 8, 1904 in Guthrie, Ill. He received his bachelor of science degree in agriculture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
He was married to Josephine Mooney Dec. 27, 1933 in Gibson City, Ill.
(Obituary included a photo.)
Source: The Newton Daily News, Monday, August 13, 1973, page 6