John Wallace Hiel, age 78, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 25, 2026, in Marco Island, Florida, with his wife, Elizabeth, by his side.
John was born in Galesburg, Illinois, on July 10, 1947, to Schneider John and Leah Jean (Lewis) Hiel. He graduated from Bushnell-Prairie City High School where he met his wife, Elizabeth Hensley. John and Elizabeth were married on July 15, 1967, and shared many adventures together.
He enlisted in the Air Force in July 1966, where he was a munitions divisions mechanic. He also served as part of the Honored Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps.
After receiving an honorable discharge, John, together with Elizabeth, went on to build Hiel Trucking/Hiel Enterprises. Their commitment and work ethic laid the foundation for the businesses’ continued mission spanning more than five decades.
Community-minded, John served as a member of the B-PC school board for 12 years, on the Spoon River College Diesel Tech Advisory Board, and as a member of the Midwest Truckers Association.
