Rodney M. Wilson, 92, of Miles, Iowa, died July 4, 2026, at Mill Valley Care Center, Bellevue, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 11, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Preston, Iowa. Visitation will be at the church from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. prior to the funeral service. Burial will be at the Miles Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the church in Preston. Pallbearers will be grandchildren: Ken Wilson, Michael Wilson, Kyle Guenther, Kaden Guenther, Bob Richards and Andrew Fritz.
Rodney was born September 30, 1933, the son of Melvin and Alieda (Biss) Wilson. He attended grade school in Miles and graduated from Miles High School in 1951. While in high school, he played the trumpet in the school band and was a member of the Trumpet Trio. He was a four-year letterwinner in basketball and baseball for Miles High School. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye sports fan and had a lifelong love of the Chicago Cubs. Rodney belonged to the Miles Baby Beef 4-H Club, showing cattle, and passed his interest in 4-H along to his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed playing cards through the years with his close friends, Pinochle and 500 Clubs. His favorite pastime was playing cards and board games with his family even most recently his great grandchildren which gave him – and them – both good memories and a great pleasure.
Rodney was united in marriage to his bride, Lola Papke, for 70 years, having wed on August 7, 1955, at St. John’s in Preston. In November 1955, Rodney was drafted into the U.S. Navy, serving from 1956 to 1957. He was stationed aboard the USS CK Bronson Destroyer in the Persian Gulf area of the Middle East. After the Navy, in July 1957, he returned to farming. He later worked for Folkmann’s Feed & Grain in Clinton, Feeders’ Supply in Preston, and the Plum River Golf Course at Preston.
Rodney is survived by his wife, Lola, and four of his five children: Joel (Trudy) Wilson of Miles, IA; David (Heather) Wilson of Sigourney, IA; Anne (Andy) Borders of Peachtree City, GA; and Sara (Mark) Guenther of Bellevue, IA – a daughter-in-law, Carla Wilson, of Miles, IA – six grandchildren: Angie (Bob) Richards, Austin, MN; Ken (Kelly Stuart) Wilson, Miles, IA; Michael (Morgan) Wilson, North Liberty, IA; Morgan (Andrew) Fritz, Coralville, IA; Kyle Guenther, St. Louis, MO; Kaden Guenther, Bellevue, IA – and eight great grandchildren, Kendall, Kacey, Kaitlyn and Briella Richards, Sophia and Miles Wilson, and Hattie and Bennett Fritz. Rodney was preceded in death by his son Seth Wilson, his two brothers, Bruce and Stuart Wilson, and his parents.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Preston, Iowa. Pape Funeral Home of Clinton is handling funeral arrangements.
