VINTON:  Maurice J. Whitson, age 76, died Monday, September 11, 2006 at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids following an extended illness.
     Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, September 15, 2006 at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel, 212 E. 6th St., in Vinton.  Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton.  Friends may call at the funeral home from 4 to 7 PM, on Thursday.
     Maurice was born August 22, 1930 at Vinton to Morris and Emma (Luwe) Whitson and graduated from Lincoln High School in Vinton in 1949.
     During the Korean Conflict he served his nation in the U.S. Army.  On June 22, 1957 he married Shirley Cherveny at Vinton .  Maurice was employed as a Machinist at John Deere for twenty-five years retiring in 1990.
     He was a member of George G. Luckey American Legion Post #57 of Vinton.  He enjoyed Hawkeye Sports events, reading western novels, playing Yahtzee with Shirley, bird watching, hunting and fishing.  His greatest pleasure came from spending time with his family.
     Maurice is survived by his wife, Shirley of Vinton; his sons, Barry (Terry) Whitson of Cedar Rapids, and Brett Whitson of Vinton; his brother, Richard (Kathleen) Whitson of Vinton; and his sister-in-law, Hazel Whitson, of Vinton
     His parents and his brother, Donald Whitson preceded him in death.