05/10/2026
David Douglas (Doug) Wilson was born on August 3, 1941, to David Scott and Roberta Elizabeth (Bette) Barnett Wilson. Doug was born at his Grandpa Jack and Grandma Sarah Barnett’s home in rural Knoxville. Doug grew up with his three brothers, Bob, Denny, and Randy and was lovingly surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a host of cousins whom he loved and had many fun times with. A highlight every year until quite recently was the Barnett family reunion on July 4 where Doug enjoyed the gathering of his extended family. He maintained lifelong friendships with many of his cousins.
Doug was a standout high school athlete lettering in football and track. He received the coveted black “K” for lettering 4 years in basketball. One year, the 4 x 400 relay team from Knoxville qualified for the Drake Relays. While hanging around the stadium infield, Doug and his lifelong best friend, Bob Bingham, sat on the grass ten feet away from where future basketball great Wilt Chamberlain was setting high jump records for the University of Kansas. Later, outside of the stadium, they encountered Olympic track great Jesse Owens, dressed in a black suit and hat, sitting on a bench. He invited them to sit with him and visit. Doug graduated from Knoxville High School in 1960.
After 2-3 years of dating, Doug married Twylah Monster of Pella on January 7, 1961. To this union, two daughters were born: Heidi Beth (1961) and Holli Ann (1962). Living in Pella, Doug worked for $1 an hour sweeping floors for Schiebout Tire. Soon he was promoted to driving a truck and having a route selling tires for Schiebout. Two influential men, one in Pella and one in Knoxville, offered to pay Doug’s tuition at Central College but, with a wife and growing family, Doug opted to stay at Schiebout.
In 1965, Doug opened the second Vermeer franchise ever awarded globally in Olathe, Kansas. Through hard work, long hours, and many days on the road in his territory of Kansas and the western half of Missouri, Doug built a successful business. In the summers when they were out of school, Doug would often take Holli or Heidi on the road with him. In the early 1970s, Doug and Twylah learned to share their Christian faith using the 4 Spiritual Laws booklet. One afternoon, they each practiced using the booklet with Heidi and Holli, who both accepted Jesus as their Savior that day.
In 1975, Doug moved his family to rural Knoxville. Doug worked as a global ambassador for Vermeer before working with his friend, Lyle Pearson, at Lyle Pearson, Inc., as a construction contractor. Doug, Lyle, and son-in-law, Kendall Robison, brought reliable, skilled residential construction to the Phoenix area in 1985 with Hawkeye Construction, Inc. Due to pain related to an automobile accident which made it hard to do construction work, in 1989 Doug and Twylah moved to Sacramento, CA where Doug accepted a position with the Vermeer franchise in that area. Doug and Twylah enjoyed Sacramento because it reminded them of Iowa. They also made many dear friends there and enjoyed exploring the wineries of Napa Valley, the mining towns in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, and the beauty of Lake Tahoe.
In 2001, Doug and Twylah happily returned to Knoxville where Doug brought a little bit of California to Iowa in the apartment he created for them on the Square. Doug was a handyman for Iowa State Savings Bank. Doug enjoyed renewing old friendships and meeting new people. He particularly enjoyed his coffeetime buddies at various locations around town. His passion, along with Twylah, was teaching Sunday school and introducing others to the freedom found in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Doug and Twylah also enjoyed traveling to visit friends and relatives around the country.
During the last 25 years in Iowa, Doug became a recognized authority on the coal mines of central and south-central Iowa. He spoke to many groups of interested people who often requested that he come back again to share additional knowledge. All four of Doug’s grandchildren know that the obvious raised bed of an abandoned railroad track surely means a coal mine is nearby! Doug also enjoyed learning about World War II through books, movies, and trips to various battlefields in Europe. Doug enjoyed vegetable gardening and golfing, and he was an avid Drake Relays fan starting when his brother, Randy, competed at Drake. Following several conversations with Twylah and his daughters, Doug moved forward establishing the Knoxville High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. The Hall of Fame is the highest honor the Knoxville community can bestow on an individual or team and, while honoring the achievements and values of teams and individuals, the inductees serve as an inspiration to current student athletes.
Doug went to Heaven on Sunday, May 10, 2026. He was preceded by his parents, Scott and Bette Wilson; his brother, Dennis Wilson; and the love of his life, Twylah, who passed away in July 2025. He is survived by his daughters, Heidi (Kendall) Robison of Lakeside, Arizona, and Holli (Stu) Job of Marco Island, Florida. Grandchildren Amanda Robison, Heath (Lisa) Robison, Natalie (Ross) Sieren, and Meredith (Andrew) Waller. Great-Grandchildren include Logan Robison, Melia Robison, Brianna Robison, Tiffany Robison, Ethan Robison, Julian Robison, Coehn Robison, Leighton Robison, and Beric Sieren. Doug found great enjoyment in knowing, and being known by, his great-grandchildren. Doug is also survived by his brothers Bob and Randy (Diane) Wilson, and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions have been designated to the Knoxville High School Athletic Hall of Fame, 305 E. Main St. Knoxville, IA 50138.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, August 22, 2026, from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Knoxville.