Lorn Richard Wills was born February 5, 1942, in Sibley, IA, a triplet son of Logan and Winnie (Kruse) Wills. He spent his youth in the Little Rock, IA and Sibley areas and attended K-8 at Sibley Country School. He then went to Sibley High School through 11th grade and later, earned his General Education Diploma by taking night school classes at Northwest Iowa Technical College in Sheldon, IA.

    After attending basic training in Ft. Polk, LA and Ft. Leonard Wood, MO, Lorn served his country in the United States Army, 802nd Eng. Battalion, from 1964-1966. He was ranked as an SP4 and served time in California and Korea all during the Korean Conflict. Lorn participated in American Legion activities, including riding the American Legion float in Sanborn’s Railroad Days parade.  Following his honorable discharge from the service, Lorn came back to Iowa and was employed by Osterman Construction in Ocheyedan, IA from 1966-1972, operating heavy construction equipment and building many roads in this area. Quite often he was heard to say he helped build the road being traveled on at the time.  

    On April 10, 1971, Lorn was united in marriage to Joan Karen Bosch at the First Reformed Church in Sanborn, IA. In 1973, he began farming northwest of Sanborn with his father-in-law and continued raising row crops and livestock until he retired in 2014. Lorn thoroughly enjoyed farming and appreciated the help he received from his wife, Joan, and his three children: Vickie, Wade and Rhonda. Always interested in anything farm related, he had participated in many local tractor rides on his 4010 John Deere and enjoyed coffee at Ritter with other local farmers. Over the years, he and Joan had taken several cruises and bus trips as well as a yearly trip to Branson, MO. If you live in Sanborn, you have surely seen him out for a drive on the 4010 or his side-by-side vehicle.

    Lorn and Joan were active members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sheldon, IA where they participated in several adult member groups and Lorn served as an usher for 36 years.

    Being a family-oriented man, Lorn was very proud of his children and grandchildren and enjoyed attending their many sporting or band activities throughout their school years. He was excited to become a great-grandpa in March of 2026.

    On Monday, October 13, 2025, Lorn was reunited with loved ones who had gone before him: his wife, Joan (2024), his parents, Logan and Winnie Wills; his brothers: Russell, Delbert and triplet brothers, Lyle and Lynn; sisters: Dorothy Schilling and Marlys Jurrens; and several brothers and sisters-in-law.

    He is survived by his children: Vickie Wills Quiñones of Pleasant Hill, IA, Wade (Harmony) Wills of Hawarden IA and Rhonda (Chad) Lyman of Sanborn, IA; six grandchildren: Logan and Benjamin Quiñones, Chance Williams, Morgan and Tanner Vlaminck and Jayden Lyman; great-granddaughter, baby Vlaminck; sisters-in-law: Charlotte Vierhout and Gloria Wills; several nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.