Clair Leon Dillon, 87, of Agency, died at 2:30 p.m. on September 1, 2023 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
He was born October 25, 1935 in rural Hedrick to Everett M. and Margery Grace Dillon. He married Jane McReynolds December 23, 1964 and she preceded him in death October 19, 2015.
A 1958 graduate of Iowa State University, he later earned his master’s degree in education. Clair taught as a Vocational Agriculture teacher at West Union High School, and a science teacher at Cardinal Schools and Ottumwa junior and senior high schools. He farmed with his father until his father passed away in 1977. Tony Bond became Clair’s hired man in the spring of 1985. They continued to farm together until he retired in 2006.
Clair and Jane enjoyed traveling. They loved the gulf and the ocean, having vacationed in Hawaii 3 times and traveled to Europe 2 times. They spent many Sundays with Jane’s nieces and nephews, taking them boating and teaching them to water ski. Clair spent winters in Arizona with his brother Carl. He was a Cyclone basketball and football fan. Clair often enjoyed his morning coffee club at McDonalds with friends.
Surviving are his siblings, Carl Dillon of Sun City West, AZ and Mary Belle (Richard) Wright of Hedrick; two nieces, Patricia (Eric) Simonton, and Pamela (Bill) Hurley, both of Texas; two nephews, Ross (Cherlyn) Wright of Batavia, and Roger (Staci) Wright of Fairfield; many grandnieces and grandnephews; a sister-in-law, Nancy (Richard) Squire of Bloomfield; and Tony and Angela Bond of Pekin. .
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 6th, at Reece Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday, September 7th, at Reece Funeral Home with Larry Smith officiating. The family will be present to greet friends 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will be in McCormick Cemetery near Highland Center.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.
