Gordon Watson

Gordon Paul Watson, 81, of Washington died Friday, February 7, 2020 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM, Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at the Washington Mennonite Church. Visitation will be Tuesday, February 11, 2020 from 12:00-7:00 PM with the family present from 3:00-7:00 PM at the church. A private family burial will be held prior to the service at the Bethel Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mennonite Disaster Service.

Gordon was born in Pleasant Plain, Iowa, on November 9, 1938, to Carlos H. and Helen E. (Bell) Watson.  He graduated from Pleasant Plain High School in 1956, then furthered his studies at AIB in Des Moines.  He served in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959.

In 1960 Gordon married Beverly Ann Chalupa, who predeceased him.  He married Karen Kay Roth in 1969.  Gordon and Karen celebrated their 50th anniversary in November, 2019, with their entire family.

Gordon grew up on a farm in Pleasant Plain and was involved in agriculture for much of his career.  He started working for Tindal Farm Supply in 1966.  He then worked for L-W Service Company, retiring as sales manager in 1994.  In his retirement years he worked for Beatty Funeral Home.

Gordon was a member of Washington Mennonite Church.  He was a board member of Parkview Nursing Home in Wayland, Iowa, for six years.

Gordon enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, traveling, and tending to his lawn and beloved roses.  He took great pleasure in delivering his roses to friends, family and even strangers.

Gordon is survived by wife Karen of Washington, brother Keith of Pleasant Plain, sons Paul (Mary) of Riverside, and Todd (Kate) of Texas, and son-in-law Peter Wiklund (Kathy) of Davenport. Grandchildren are Caitlin Ford (Craig), Chloe Doessel (John), Sydney and Abigail Watson, and Sophie and Hudson Wiklund.  Step grandchildren are Seth, Morgan, Grace and Emma Schneiderman.  Great grandchildren are Claire, Owen and James Ford and Johnny Doessel.

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, wife Beverly, brother Charles, and daughter Tina.