Rod Wilson

Rod Wilson was born on March 18, 1955, to Richard and Arleta Wilson in Cedar Rapids, IA. He attended Roosevelt Jr. High, graduated from Kennedy High School (1973) and played a starting role in Kennedy’s State Championship Basketball team in 1972. Rod played basketball, baseball and ran cross country track and lettered in each sport. He married his high school sweetheart Cindy Meewes and they both attended Iowa State University and graduated in 1977. Rod was President of Sigma Nu Fraternity and was married for over 20 years to Cindy. They had 2 beautiful daughters, Mindy and Mackenzie. Rod worked for ISU as a Graduate Assistant basketball coach under Jonny Orr. He held different positions at ISU as Director of ISU Alumni Association (fundraising) and traveled around the state of Iowa with Johnny Majors and Jonnie Orr playing golf and other fundraising events. Rod loved his job and he loved players like Hornacek, Hoiberg, and Floyd because they were like minded as players and were the coaches on the floor. He loved game day and studied all the games like he was coaching. Rod had tremendous insight into players and coaches and had a knack for calling upsets with Cyclone basketball and football. Rod loved traveling the Big 8 conference for road games. He planted all the trees that surround Jace Trice Stadium in Ames and his legacy will live on forever. When you see the trees that surround Jack Trice stadium, think of Rod.

Rod was Vice President of the Des Moines Chamber of Commerce for several years and worked at Principal Life Insurance in Des Moines as financial planner. He moved to Arizona for a year and was a business owner and salesman. Rod loved going to his nephew, Tyler’s baseball games and traveled to St. Louis, Arkansas, and Oklahoma when Tyler pitched in college to support him and heckle the umpires. He loved spending time with his parents, Dick and Arlie in Arizona. He spoke to them every single week for the past 20 years and loved them unconditionally.

Rod and Cathy loved to fish and traveled in an RV to all the mountainous areas of Arizona and the Grand Canyon. They moved back to Iowa and he married the love of his life Cathy, in April 2004. Rod and Cathy owned a farm in Milo, IA that had over 90 sheep, a dog breeder (bearded collies), and had a 4-acre grape vineyard on 20 plus acres of beautiful land that he called heaven, but others called it Iowa. Rod loved his wife, farm, dogs, and all extended family. Rod and Cathy moved to Grimes in 2014 to be closer to his extended family after some health challenges. He loved attending all sporting events with grandchildren and was so proud of them all, including his two beautiful daughters. Rod was really close to the Garcia family and all the grandchildren. They really loved Rod and he was so grateful for their affection. Rod and Cathy loved traveling to Arizona and San Diego. He loved boating, walking the beach with Cathy, the change of seasons and sunsets, and could have been a professional weatherman. Rod really enjoyed his Uncle Vic time and visiting Presidential Libraries. He visited 4 of them. Rod had two holes-in-ones, loved his country music, Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, and had tremendous passion for the Chicago Cubs, ISU football/basketball, his dogs, and vineyard.

Rod was a great husband, son, father, brother, uncle, and grandfather. He would give his prayers and time to everyone. Rod was a man of faith and faced a lot of challenges that showed his true character as a fighter and warrior for the Lord. He was the hands and feet of our Lord and Savior and may he rest in peace.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Cathy; parents, Richard and Arleta; brother, Bart (Kelly), daughters, Mindy (Russ) DeVries, Mackenzie (Nick) Tallman, nephew, Tyler (Keturah) Wilson; stepchildren; Antonio (Amanda) Garcia, Nicole (Jacob) Hildebrandt and Michael (Anne) Garcia; and 17 grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Bearded Collie Rescue, the Iowa Heart Association, or the Iowa State Alumni Association.