Willmar, MN.
John "Jay" Golden Vivion, age 81, of Willmar, died Tuesday morning, September 19, at the Olivia Health Care Center.
The funeral service will be 11:00 AM on Friday, September 22, at Calvary Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery. Military honors provided by the Willmar American Legion and V.F.W. Posts. Visitation will be from 5-7 PM on Thursday, September 21, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home and also one hour prior to the service at the church.
John was born on September 27, 1924, in Kiddville, KY., the son of John and Effie (Scott) Vivion. He grew up in Kiddville, KY., was baptized and confirmed in the Baptist church and at the age of 16 moved to Montevideo, Minnesota with his father. He served overseas in the U.S. Army during W.W. II. On July 31, 1952, in Clara City, he was married to Phyllis E. Tischer and they lived in Maynard. In 1964, they moved to Willmar where John worked for Willmar Manufacturing Company as a truck driver and inspector for over 30 years, retiring in 1993. He was a life member of the American Legion and V.F.W. Posts.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis of Willmar; four children, Cathy (and Lonnie) Thomas of Las Vegas, NV., Dodi Vivion of Minneapolis, Bobby (and Wendy) Vivion of Bird Island and Becky (and Ken) Merchant of Omaha, NE; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren, besides other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one grandson, Nicolas Slagter and two half-sisters, Elta Dawson and one in infancy.