Obituary of Johnnie Francis Wilcox

Johnnie Francis "John" Wilcox, the son of George Vernon and Ella Eliza (Bowie) Wilcox, was born December 7, 1937, near Newton. He served country with the US Army, during the mid-1950's. On December 31, 1957, John was united in marriage with Jean Irene Poortinga in Newton. A resident of the Jasper County area most of his life, John was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. John was employed by and retired from the Maytag Company in Newton. He enjoyed his family and was a jack of all trades. He was a past member of the Immanuel Baptist Church in Newton and had attended the Zoar Community Church in rural Newton and the Newton Baptist Temple. On Tuesday morning, February 5, 2019, John was called home to be with his Lord Jesus at the age of 81, at Mercy One Newton Medical Center. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Jean on March 20, 2006; and fifteen brothers and sisters. Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m., Monday, February 11, 2019, at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton, with a visitation just prior to the services. Burial will be in the Newton Union Cemetery. Those left to honor John's memory include his son, John F. Wilcox, Jr.; his three daughters: Teresa (Anthony) Altemeier, Brenda Matters (Bryan Dickey) and Susan R (Paul) Lammey; his eleven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren; a sister Ella "Tudy" Ashby; a sister-in-law Freda DeGreef; and many good neighbors and friends.