John P. Wilch

John P. Wilch, 76, of Mount Vernon, died at University Hospitals in Iowa City after internal injuries sustained in a car accident that occurred on Springville Road on December 31. Visitation will be held Friday, January 4 from 4 PM to 8 PM with a wake service at 7:00 p.m.in the church. Funeral services will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mount Vernon at 10:30 AM on Saturday, January 5. His family includes his wife, Jo; daughter Edie of Seattle, Washington; sons John, Jr. (Jarene) of West Des Moines, Matthew (Jeffrey Hutson) of Baltimore, Maryland, Mark (Clemens Auer) of Vienna, Austria, Patrick (Margaret) of Tucson, Arizona, Daniel (Dean Gray) of New York, New York, Thomas (Ellen) of Albion, Michigan and Peter (Melanie) of Mount Vernon; nephews Gabriel (Beth) Wilch III of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Christopher (Leasa) Wilch of Witchita, Kansas, Andrew (Susan) of Portland, Oregon; 12 grandchildren Rachel, Esther, Clara, John III, Henry, Jane, Joseph, Alex, Lauren, Miriam, Peyton and Evan; ten grand nephews and nieces and one great grand nephew. He was preceded in death by his daughter Meredith, and brother Gabriel Junior. John was born on February 14, 1931 in Waukon, Iowa to Ethyl Peyton and Gabriel Barnard Wilch. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1949 and attnded Mason City Junior College. On August 22, 1951 he married Jo Ann Edie in Mason City, Iowa. He and his family moved to Mount Vernon in 1959. John was a Telephone Pioneer having worked for Northwestern Bell and AT&T for over 35 years. He was a member of the Mount Vernon School Board before becoming the district's Secretary/Business Manager for the Mount Vernon School District for over 30 years. For several years, he co-owned a Borden's Milk franchise with business partner and long-time friend, Bill Snodgrass. Throughout his life, he was an active contributor to his community. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Mount Vernon where he was a trustee and was involved in various boards including serving on the building committee leading to the construction of the current church, the Parish Council and the Finance Council. He and his wife Jo were instrumental in the creation of the Mount Vernon senior citizens' home Chapel View Manor where he also served on the governing board and as the complex manager. Following retirement, he served as a volunteer at Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids. John was a member of the Mount Vernon Rotary Club for over 40 years. He was a founding member of the Mount Vernon Community School Foundation where he served as treasurer. He had a life-long love of sports, starting with a distinguished high school track career that extended to his final years when he was honored to act as an official at the Drake Relays; he was a particularly avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, the Green Bay Packers, Iowa Hawkeyes and not least the Mount Vernon Mustangs. Throughout his life he was active in the Democratic Party, including acting as a delegate to county conventions. He served as a volunteer with the Mount Vernon Fire Department. John had an adventurous spirit; he loved to travel and study history. Above all, he was a devoted family man who loved his wife, his children, his nephews and his grandchildren. John pursued life with great passion and inspired those around him to be better people. He will be remembered as a good man and a hard worker and for being a loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather and friend. In lieu of flowers, donations to benefit the community may be addressed to the John Wilch Memorial Fund and sent to the the Mount Vernon Bank at 206 1st Street S.W., Mount Vernon, Iowa 52314.