John W. ‘Jack’ Wills, 85, Wabasha
John W. “Jack” Wills, age 85, of Wabasha, died Tuesday, April 19, 2016 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Rochester-St. Mary’s Campus. He was born February 26, 1931 in Red Wing, the son of John and Wava (Lopp) Wills. His mother died when he was a young boy and because his father couldn’t care for him and his two sisters, he was placed at St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Wabasha. He was raised there by the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother. Jack attended schools in the Lake City area. In 1948 he enlisted in the U. S. Army and served his country for four years, serving in the Korean War. While serving he was injured in combat, receiving two Purple Hearts, the second of which was the cause of his discharge. He also received the combat infantry badge and the bronze star for his time served in combat. Upon his discharge he returned to Wabasha where he met his future wife, Shirley Meyer. They married August 2, 1958 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Theilman.
Jack worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation and Wabasha Sand and Gravel for a few years before beginning his career as a truck driver for Bay State Milling of Winona. He concluded his trucking career with Bud Meyer Trucking, also of Lake City. In retirement he drove truck for Ag Partners of Lake City.
He was a member of St. Felix Catholic Church and the St. Joseph’s Society of Catholic United Financial. He was a life member of both the Wabasha American Legion Post #50 and the Burkhardt-Roemer VFW Post #4086 and he was a life member and past commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #1977 of Red Wing. He enjoyed golfing, camping, and hunting in his younger years. He also enjoyed doing yard work and took pride in his beautiful lawn. In recent years he and Shirley loved spending their winters in Arizona. Jack loved his adoring family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jack is survived by his wife, Shirley Wills, Wabasha, MN; children and spouses, Jeff and Cindy Wills, Rochester, MN; Jackie “Mitzi” and Terry Ryan, Lake City, MN; David “Louie” and Sue Wills, Dubuque, IA; Tom Wills, Wabasha, MN; ten grandchildren, Mike (Jean) and Eric (Dal) Wills, Anne (Travis) Klassen, Grant Wills, Ryan and Nolan (Tara) Krause, Greg and Brandon Wills, Ashley (Corey) Monson and Peter Wills; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Wilhelmina (Edwin) Schmit, Kellogg, MN, Janet Marklevits, Rochester, MN; and Shirley’s family, brothers, David (Marcia) Meyer, Wabasha, MN and Ken (Marge) Meyer, Des Moines, IA and sister, Mary “Babe” Wenzinger, Wabasha, MN; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Wava Wills, two step-sisters, Delores Harris and Gen Fick and step-brother, Frank Haustein.
A funeral Mass was offered on Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 11:00am at St. Felix Catholic Church in Wabasha with the Reverend Monsignor Thomas Cook officiating. Interment was in St. Felix Cemetery. Casket bearers were his grandsons. Military rites will be performed by the Wabasha American Legion and VFW Posts and the MNARNG Honor Guard. Family and friends called at the Abbott Funeral Home in Wabasha on Friday from 4-8pm with a prayer service at 8pm and at the church on Saturday one hour before the Mass. Memorials are preferred to St. Elizabeth’s Rehab Center, 1200 5th Grant Blvd. W. Wabasha, MN 55981, or to St. Felix School, 130 3rd St. E., Wabasha, MN 55981. The Abbott Funeral Home of Wabasha was in charge of arrangements. www.abbottfh.com
