Joseph A. "A.J." Humes

WYACONDA, Mo. -- Joseph A. "A.J." Humes, 80, of rural Wyaconda, died Wednesday (June 1, 2011) in his home.

A.J. was born Oct. 13, 1930, in Montrose, Iowa, one of eight children born to Ernest and Rhea Stevenson Humes.

He attended Keystone grade school and Kahoka High School.

On June 30, 1951, he and Lois R. Calvert were married at Kahoka. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary later this month.

A.J. farmed all of his life. He loved the outdoors and was an avid quail and mushroom hunter and also fisherman. He truly loved picking blackberries and putting in a big garden. In later years, he enjoyed playing golf.

He was a member of the Wyaconda Christian Church and was elder emeritus. He had received his 50-year Masonic pin and was a member of St. Francisville Lodge No. 588 AF&AM in Wayland. He had been active in the former Wyaconda Lions Club and always enjoyed time they spent together barbecuing at the Clark County Fair. Together, he and Lois enjoyed the eight years they spent as "snowbirds" wintering in Yuma, Ariz. Most of all, he enjoyed his time spent with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Lois, of Wyaconda; a daughter, Kathy (Stanley) Blythe of Wyaconda; two sons, Richard A. (Bonnie) Humes of Clayton, Ill., and Joseph B. (Lisa) Humes of Wyaconda; six grandchildren, Chad (Natalie) Humphrey of Kahoka, Meagan Humes of Quincy, Ill., Miranda (Seth) Vermillion of Clayton, Ill., Matthew Humes of Golden, Ill., and Christopher J. Humes and Andrew A. Humes, both of Wyaconda; three great-grandchildren, Asa Joel and Corrigan Dean Humphrey and Rylynn Vermillion; three stepgrandchildren and their families, Stanley (Amy) Blythe of Walcott, Iowa, Tina Blythe of Webster City, Iowa, and Karla (Jamie) Purkapile of Colorado; two brothers, Ernest L. "Doc" (Louise) Humes of Wyaconda and James L. Humes of Burlington, Iowa; three sisters, Patricia Varnold of Keokuk, Iowa, Dora (Don) Fogle of Memphis and Mary (Bob) Fleer of Quincy; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Zelma Joann Halferty of Wyaconda, Darlene Humes of Wyaconda, Allen (Beverly) Calvert of Davenport, Iowa and Normalee Calvert of Mesa, Ariz.; as well as nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Laverne and Alfred Humes; and two brothers-in-law, Robert Varnold and Raymond Calvert Jr.

SERVICES: 11 a.m. Saturday in the Wyaconda Christian Church, with Rev. Sandy Browning conducting. Cremation will follow with inurnment at a later date.

VISITATION: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today in the Wilson Funeral Home in Kahoka with family present from 6-8 tonight. A public Masonic service will be held following visitation.

MEMORIALS: Wyaconda Christian Church or the Wyaconda Cemetery.

ARRANGEMENTS: Wilson Funeral Home, Kahoka.

WEBSITE: www.timeformemory.com/wilsonfh

Condolences may be expressed online at www.whig.com.