John Wells
November 4, 1931 — March 6, 2015
John Jerome Wells was born on November 4, 1931 to John and Louise (Book) Wells in Defiance, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Defiance where he remained a life-long member. He attended St. Paul’s Catholic School in Defiance, graduating with the Class of 1949. He went to work helping with the books at Bogler Implement in Defiance. He also played part-time with the Earl Russell Band.
He was called into the United States Army on November 13, 1952 and served until October 13, 1954 earning the Bronze Star and the Korean Service Medal before obtaining his honorable discharge.
On January 21, 1956, John and Lila Granteer were united in marriage at St. Peter’s. They became parents to two sons: John and Robert.
John was employed for two years with the State of Iowa Auditor’s Office then he took a position with the Defiance State Bank for thirty-nine years and he sold insurance for over forty years, being recognized by the Central Life Assurance Company as Broker Of the Year in 1992-1993.
John held many positions with the town of Defiance beginning with City Clerk, Treasurer, City Councilman, and served as Mayor from 1996 to 2012. He also served on the Shelby County Conservation Board for ten years. John took great pride in the development of the Defiance Walking Park.
On May 21, 2005, John was married to Mary McGinn at St. Rose of Lima in Denison, Iowa. John was a caring and generous man; God, family, and his love of woodworking.
He became a resident of Manilla Manor Nursing Home where he died on Friday, March 6, 2015 at the age of eighty-three years, four months, and two days. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lila in 2003, and brother Donald.
He is survived by his wife Mary Wells of Defiance, Iowa; sons John Wells also of Defiance and Bob Wells and his wife Annette of Lake View, Iowa; six grandchildren: John, Crystal, Dillon, Angelina, Abbie, and Colton; four great-grandchildren: Isiah, Aubrey, Lillianna, and Charlotte; brother Leonard Wells and his wife Darlene of Denison; sister-in-law Lois Jessen of Atlantic, Iowa; brothers-in-law: Philip McGinn and Bernard McGinn both of Grand Lake, Colorado, Stephen McGinn of Denison, Charles McGinn of Fort Worth, Texas, and Neil McGinn and his wife Danita of Denison; other family members and friends.
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He was called into the United States Army on November 13, 1952 and served until October 13, 1954 earning the Bronze Star and the Korean Service Medal before obtaining his honorable discharge.
On January 21, 1956, John and Lila Granteer were united in marriage at St. Peter’s. They became parents to two sons: John and Robert.
John was employed for two years with the State of Iowa Auditor’s Office then he took a position with the Defiance State Bank for thirty-nine years and he sold insurance for over forty years, being recognized by the Central Life Assurance Company as Broker Of the Year in 1992-1993.
John held many positions with the town of Defiance beginning with City Clerk, Treasurer, City Councilman, and served as Mayor from 1996 to 2012. He also served on the Shelby County Conservation Board for ten years. John took great pride in the development of the Defiance Walking Park.
On May 21, 2005, John was married to Mary McGinn at St. Rose of Lima in Denison, Iowa. John was a caring and generous man; God, family, and his love of woodworking.
He became a resident of Manilla Manor Nursing Home where he died on Friday, March 6, 2015 at the age of eighty-three years, four months, and two days. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lila in 2003, and brother Donald.
He is survived by his wife Mary Wells of Defiance, Iowa; sons John Wells also of Defiance and Bob Wells and his wife Annette of Lake View, Iowa; six grandchildren: John, Crystal, Dillon, Angelina, Abbie, and Colton; four great-grandchildren: Isiah, Aubrey, Lillianna, and Charlotte; brother Leonard Wells and his wife Darlene of Denison; sister-in-law Lois Jessen of Atlantic, Iowa; brothers-in-law: Philip McGinn and Bernard McGinn both of Grand Lake, Colorado, Stephen McGinn of Denison, Charles McGinn of Fort Worth, Texas, and Neil McGinn and his wife Danita of Denison; other family members and friends.
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