James Howard Wilson was born in Holliday, Missouri, on February 15, 1935, to Rufus Combs and Berle Lucy (Wiley) Wilson. He passed away on February 16, 2026, at the Shenandoah Medical Center in Shenandoah, Iowa, at the age of 91 years and 1 day.
His early life was spent growing up on a farm near Holliday, Missouri. He attended Evans grade school and Paris, Missouri, High School and graduated with the class of 1953. In 1954, Jim enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed on the U.S.S. Iowa until December of 1957. While in the Navy, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Jim was very proud of his Naval service and to serve his country. One of his proudest moments was crossing the equator where uninitiated sailors (pollywogs) are transformed and trusted shellbacks upon crossing the equator.
Jim knew of his future wife, Bonnie Riley, but it wasn’t until he returned from the Navy that the flame of romance began to burn brightly. On March 6, 1959, Jim was united in marriage to Bonnie Sue Riley in Moberly, Missouri. Following their marriage, they resided on a farm near Holliday and to this union they were blessed with three children: Belinda, Darrell, and Jana.
In 1967, the family moved to Shenandoah, Iowa, where Jim would live out the remainder of his life. Throughout his life, Jim worked for Guy’s Potato Chips, Eaton Corporation, and retired from D&L/Romech in Red Oak, Iowa. He always had to be busy, so he would help farmers in the area or local auctioneers.
Both Jim and Bonnie were longtime members of the First Christian Church, where he was very active. Jim was also on a bowling league and softball league. He loved spending time in his gardens and refinishing furniture. He was proud of his huge gardens and always tried growing the biggest watermelon and sweet potato as well as the best tomatoes around and he always grew enough to can/freeze or share with neighbors and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Rufus and Berle Wilson, wife of 64 years, Bonnie (Riley) Wilson; daughter, Belinda Holmes; son-in-law, Terry O’Rourke; great grandson, Noah Holmes; brothers, Rudy (Virginia), Kenneth (Geneva), and Donald Wilson; sister, Merle Jean Ranney (Bill); and sisters-in-law, Sharon Riley and Sheila Mongler. Those left to cherish his memory are son, Darrell (Nancy) Wilson of Quincy, Illinois; daughter, Jana O’Rourke of Council Bluffs, Iowa; grandchildren, Laura (Chad) Brogan, Terra (Megan) O’Rourke, Tyler (Johanna) Holmes, Quinn (Danielle) O’Rourke, Cliff (Ashle) Holmes, Blake (Kassidy) Wilson, and Logan (Caitlin) Wilson; 11 great grandchildren; two step-great granddaughters; two step-great grandsons; sisters, Helen Joyce (Jack) Davis of Mexico, Missouri, and Carol Jean (JD) Hendrick of Rayton, Missouri; brother, Harold Wilson of Holliday, Missouri; and many nieces and nephews.
Per Jim’s request, there will be no service.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Shenandoah Medical Center, especially the nurses and staff who cared for him. Memorials may be directed to the Shenandoah Ambulance Building Project (Shenandoah Medical Center Foundation, Attn: Haley Weis, 300 Pershing Ave, Shenandoah, IA 51601)
