John Wendell McWilliams, 77, of Mount Vernon died Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Oldorf Hospice House, Hiawatha. Visitation is 4-7 p.m., Friday, June 26 at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services in Mount Vernon. Memorial Service is 2 p.m., Saturday, June 27 at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church, Mount Vernon. Burial: Mount Vernon Cemetery.

John was born Sept. 13, 1948, in Joliet, Ill., the son of Wendell and Elizabeth (Johnson) McWilliams. He was united in marriage to Mary Jane Pratt Aug. 24, 1974, at the First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg.

John loved to golf and was an avid woodworker. He worked as a construction estimator for Bill Lane Construction. John was named Mount Vernon Citizen of the Year in 1988, for his leadership in the design and building of the Gazebo at Memorial Park in Mount Vernon.

John is survived by his wife, Mary Jane McWilliams; daughters, Maggie (Scott) Noll and Betsy (Chris) Brown; grandchildren, Katie, Josh, Marcus, Evelyn, and Meredith; siblings, Bonnie Nordstrom, Gene (Claire) McWilliams, and Debbie (Mike) Burroughs; sisters-in-law, Ruth (Larry) Neppl and Rose Mary Pratt; and brother-in-law, Jim (Mary) Pratt.

John was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Beverly (Robert) Smith; brothers-in-law, Pete Nordstrom and Robert Pratt; and nephews, Kyle McWilliams and Rick Smith.

Memorials may be made to the Community Health Free Clinic or the Mount Vernon United Methodist Church.

Those unable to attend are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on John’s obituary page and share your support and memories with his family at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.