Jonathan Dean Wilbur was born in Des Moines, Iowa on October 14, 1946, He was adopted by Ross Taylor Wilbur and Elizabeth Reynolds Wilbur at about 6 months old. He joined his older sister Carolyn as the two children in their family. Elizabeth later passed and Ross married Helen Farley when Jon was around 12 years old. Jon was brought up in the Des Moines Valley Friends Meeting Church (Ross) and St. John's Lutheran Church (Helen) in Des Moines. He graduated from Tech High School in 1965 completing the Welding Core Area. He then graduated with an Associates Degree from North Dakota School of Science and worked for Green Giant in North Dakota after graduation.

Jon married Jacquavia Roop and they had a daughter Elizabeth Jean Wilbur.  In Jon's second marriage to Joanne Beveridge, he had a son Jonathan Dean Wilbur, Jr.  Finally…Jon got lucky in his third marriage to Jacque Rice and bonded in love with two step-sons, Robert Allen Rice and Norman Michael Rice.

When Jon moved back to Des Moines he worked as a cargo man for Braniff International Airways at the Des Moines Airport where he met Jacque working at the Dobbs House Gift Shop. They married on August 19, 1979, thus blending their two families. They have been together just shy of 44 years.

After Braniff went bankrupt, Jon changed careers to become a Stationary Engineer, working for Principal Financial, then Glenborough Realty, and lastly Wesley Acres. He retired on disability in 2007. Thus began his long battle with diabetes neuropathy, Stage D4 prostate cancer, and most recently a series of TIA (mini strokes).

Jon was a man of Peace. Being a conservative Quaker, he was among the conscientious objectors during the Viet Nam War.  He attended Middle River Friends Church in rural Warren County, Iowa, and actively supported their Friends Food Pantry Ministry. He lived his peace testimony every day. He loved all people; it was important to him to take care of your fellow man. His family was most important in his life. He was a Life Scout and had much pride in his two grandsons who became Eagle Scouts. In his younger adult years, he was into go-carts and motocross motorcycle racing. He continued to love horseback riding, camping, canoeing, and bicycling into adulthood. He had great pleasure in working with his hands and baling the hay fields on his hobby farm.

Jon is survived by his wife, Jacquelyn Ann Wilbur;  his children, daughter Elizabeth Jean Hogue (Travis), son Jonathan Dean Wilbur, Jr. (Dawn), step-sons Norman Michael Rice, and Robert Allen Rice; grandchildren, Andrew Tyler Rice, Amanda Bell (Michael), Monica Valverde (William), Arron Paul Bodine, Sophie Rae Rice, Rachael Hogue, Brian Hogue (Alexandra), Bryce Ross Wilbur, Brooke Rose Wilbur, Peyton Jon Wilbur, Lily Mae Wilbur; great-grandchildren, Helen Parker Hogue, Hunter Reynolds, Bentley Reynolds, Anna Hogue, Beau Hogue, Monica Valverde Jr. He is also survived by his siblings, sister Carolyn Treadway (Roy), foster brother Andy Kelly and foster sister Beth Peabody. Additionally, George Bailey Wilbur, his loyal German Shepherd was always by his side.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his foster brother Daniel Kelly.

Jon has requested no immediate public services. A graveside service for burial of cremains will be in August at the Palmyra Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the FRIENDS FOOD PANTRY, located at Middle River Friends Church, 4027 S23 Hwy, Carlisle, IA 50047.