John McWilliams

John Wendell McWilliams, 77, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, died on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Oldorf Hospice House, Hiawatha, Iowa. Visitation: 4:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, June 26, 2026, Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Mount Vernon. Memorial Service: 2:00 p.m., Saturday, June 27, 2026, Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, Mount Vernon. Burial: Mount Vernon Cemetery.

John was born on September 13, 1948, in Joliet, Illinois to Wendell and Elizabeth (Johnson) McWilliams. He was the middle child of five children. He graduated from Joliet East High School in 1966, Joliet Junior College in 1969, and Bradley University in 1971 with a degree in Construction Technology.

He worked as a Construction Estimator at Turner Construction in Chicago from 1971 – 1976 where he worked to build the Northern Trust Building in the Chicago Loop. Once he moved to Iowa, he was employed at Wesbrock Construction, Schoff Construction, and Bill Lane Construction where he retired in 2016.

While living and working in Chicago, he met Mary Jane Pratt on a blind date. That first date was at the Pinnacle revolving restaurant at The Holiday Inn on Lake Shore Drive. They were married at First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg, Iowa on August 24, 1974. In 1976, John and Mary Jane settled in Mount Vernon, to work and raise their family.

John’s hobbies and interests included golf, woodworking, bowling, westerns, and classic rock music. He was a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and, being an Illinois native, the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Cubs. He was a past member of the Mount Vernon Lions Club, past chairperson of the Trustees at the United Methodist Church, and past member of the Mount Vernon Parks and Recreation Commission. He served as a Big Brother in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization. He was named Mount Vernon Citizen of the Year in 1988 for his leadership in the design and building of the Gazebo at Memorial Park in Mount Vernon.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Jane (Pratt) McWilliams; daughters, Maggie (Scott) Noll of Marion, and Betsy (Chris) Brown of Lisbon, Iowa; five grandchildren, Katie, Josh, and Marcus Noll, and Evelyn, and Meredith Brown; He is also survived by one brother, Gene (Claire) McWilliams of Shorewood, Illinois, two sisters, Bonnie Nordstrom of Naperville, Illinois and Debbie (Mike) Burroughs of Elwood, Illinois; sister-in-law, Ruth (Larry) Neppl of Marion, Iowa; brother–in-law, Jim (Mary) Pratt of Iowa City, Iowa; sister-in-law, Rose Mary Pratt of Des Moines, Iowa; aunt, Phyllis Holmquist of Joliet, Illinois, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Beverly (Robert) Smith; brothers-in-law, Pete Nordstrom and Robert Pratt; and nephew, Kyle McWilliams.

Memorials may be made to the Community Health Free Clinic or the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church.