Wilbur Himes

Wilbur Leroy Himes, 83, passed away peacefully Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Lewis County Nursing Home in Canton, Missouri after a long battle with dementia.

He was born December 11, 1942, in rural Donnellson, the son of Benjamin “Benny” Allen and Dorothy Marie Vestal Gilbert Himes.

Wilbur was a 1962 graduate of Harmony High School in Farmington, Iowa. In 1966, he was drafted into the United States Army and served in Heidelberg, Germany, until 1968. He received an honorable discharge in 1972. On June 21, 1969, Wilbur married Norma Fay Hays, and together they were blessed with three children, Michele, Mary and Will. They later divorced.

A hard worker throughout his entire life, Wilbur worked at several factories before retiring at the age of 62 from Griffin Wheel in Keokuk, Iowa.

Wilbur was a man of many talents and passions. A lifelong fisherman, he loved camping and canoeing on the river, running bank lines, and showing off his hand fishing and “cranking” skills. He was a true outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting deer, squirrels, and rabbits, as well as gardening, and spending time on his deck.

Known as a true “animal whisperer”, he had never met an animal that he couldn’t train. He loved riding and raising horses, training them to lay down, and to shake hands on command. While living in St. Francisville, he operated a geode mine, rock shop, and sporting clay business.

Anyone who knew Wilbur knew he was almost always bare foot unless he was at work. He also loved music, singing karaoke, playing the guitar, and playing the harmonica. Above all, Wilbur loved his family, took pride in a life well lived, and left many cherished family traditions.

Wilbur was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witness in 1993.

He is survived by his children; Michele (Michael) St. Clair, Mary (Bryant) Hodge; and Will (Bailey) Himes, his grandchildren, Mandy (Justin) Chance, Cole (Shelby) Davis, Savanna, Shyanne, and Javan Hodge, and Landon Ash, and his great-grandchildren; Bentley “Fish” and Dayton Chance, and Phoebe, Mollie, and Murphy Davis along with many nieces and nephews.

Wilbur was preceded in death by his parents; his sisters, Shirley and Barbara, his brother, Danny Himes, as well as his niece, Amy and his long-time friend, Tom Jones.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, October 23 at the Vigen Memorial Home in Keokuk, Iowa with Bryant Hodge officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, at the funeral home with family meeting with friends at that time.