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THE PASSING OF IVAN WIKNER
Mar. 29, 2021
Source: Hamilton's Funeral Home
Ivan A. Wikner, 90, of Johnston, Iowa, died on Sunday, March 14, 2021, at Pine Acres, West Des Moines, Iowa, after a brief illness surrounded by his family.
Ivan Arnold Wikner, son of Ralph Otto Wikner and Elsie Marie Petersen Wikner, was born on February 16, 1931, in Pipestone, Minnesota. He graduated from Tripoli High School in 1948. He attended Iowa State College where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture Education in 1952. Ivan received a Master's Degree from Iowa State University in Agronomy in 1959.
While at Iowa State, Ivan was in ROTC and "Advanced Rotsee," which let him in the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. Ivan was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, at Lackland Air Force Base 1952 to 1954. His tenure with the US Air Force was from 1954 to 1974, he was the Academy Liason Officer for the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He attained rank as Lieutenant Colonel.
On September 14, 1950, he married Genevieve Kathleen DeKock in Sully, Iowa. They moved to Black Hawk County in 1954 where Ivan was the Extension Youth Assistant. 1955, Ivan was the County Extension Director for Butler County. 1959, Ivan was the Extension Agronomist and Assistant Manager in Marengo, Iowa.
He moved to Johnston, Iowa, in 1965, as Pioneer's Agronomist in Central Iowa. 1968, he was the Agronomy Service Manager for Central Division for IA, MN, and SD. In 1986, Ivan was the Agronomy Service Support Leader for Marketing West Region. He was the Agronomy Service Support Manager for US and Canada 1998. In 1993, Ivan retired with 30 years of service with Pioneer Hi-Bred International. From 1993-2006, Ivan was an Independent Crop Consultant with Grinnell Mutual Insurance Company. The Farmers called him the "Corn Doctor," which was on his vehicle license plate.
To read his entire obituary click here.
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