Rex Wilson

Rex Wilson

Funeral Mass for Rex Wilson, age 78, of Paton, will be held at 10:30am Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church, Churdan, Iowa. Interment will be in Paton Township Cemetery. The family will visit with friends from 4:00 – 7:00pm Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson, Iowa.

Memorials in honor of Rex may be directed to the Wilson family for future designation and distribution.

Rex Wilson, 78, died in a farm accident Wednesday, September 24, 2025 in Paton, IA.

He was born on November 16, 1946 in Jefferson, IA, the son of Jesse and Nadine Wilson of Paton, IA. He graduated from Paton-Churdan in the class of 1965. He married his high school sweetheart Virginia Squibb on September 17, 1966. To this marriage two sons were born and raised in Paton, IA.

From hauling cattle with a semi and pot in his early teens by himself to various states as far as Montana to hauling ag products by semi at the conditioned age of 78, Rex had many colorful experiences in between. He worked for many great companies and people along the way. To list a few of the stand outs; Iowa Army National Guard, various ag services, car and semi sales, motor home sales, and semi driver. Rex always did what it took to get the job done. He routinely outpaced co-workers, sometimes decades younger, by starting his workday several hours before them and some days working 16 hours straight, if that's what it took. He never embraced the idea of retirement, as his only joy in life, (outside of his passion to work), was spending time with his beloved family and many friends, along with attending his grandchildren's activities. His "number" was definitely the number 1, Number of wives (Virg) – 1, Number of homes lived in as an adult – 1, P.O. Box Number in Paton – 1, Number of times meeting him before he made you feel like family – 1, and he was the Number 1 Husband, Dad, & Grandpa (Papa Rex). Some people stand out in life due to how much wealth they have accumulated or stand out because of a fancy title or degree behind their name, but those that truly knew Rex had a clear image of why he stood out, it was the ability that he had in making them feel special, smile and laugh. He gave the best hugs, treated everyone like family whether they were blood or not, and could recite joke after joke, without hesitation or slipping up, always nailing the punchline, and really could tell a story with the best of them. A few sayings and segments of jokes from his collection (most often recited by Rex) - - -

"Hooray hooray for the first of May, outdoor sewing :-) starts today." "You know we are related right, my mother and your mother are both mothers." "Love ya girl." "I quit golfing due to always getting hurt climbing down from the ball washer." " Rye Whisky, Rye Whisky " "Crown and cherry coke please with NO grenadine!" "I'm semi-retired, in a semi full time." "Come on in, we'll treat you so many different ways you'll have to like one of them." "You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose." "But by the time I got the words out & she looked over, the dog was licking his ….." " I wish I would've known ya, when you were a little younga " "I've backed up more miles that you have driven forward." "I was born at night, but not last night." "If I knew I was going to live to be this old, I would have taken better care of Myself."

Rex is survived by his wife Virginia of Paton, IA; sons, Kevin (Merry) Wilson of Bondurant, IA and Bradley (Brandy) Wilson of rural Scranton, IA; Grandchildren - Kameron (Jamie), Trevor (Ryan), Tyler, Jake, Nick, Allysha (Nolan), Collin, Caden (Abby), Allyssa (Kaleb), and Tanner. Great Grandchildren – Danika, Gabby, Jack, Devan, Viviana, and Waylon. Brother Roger (Dorena) Wilson of Jefferson, IA; three sisters-in-law, Ellen Wilson of Webster City, IA, Judy Wilson of Paton, IA, Linda (Tom) Carr of Geneseo, IL; brother-in-law Bob (Kelly) Squibb of Waukesha, WI; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant sister Victoria Wilson, four brothers, Robert, Richard, Raymond (Jane), and Russel (Lois) Wilson, and brothers-in-law, Eldon (Julie) Squibb and Darwin (Adabel) Squibb.

Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home – Continuous Service Since 1919