Robert Wilson, 73, of Ottawa, passed away on Sunday, April 23, 2023 with family by his side.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Zion Lutheran Church. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with Rev. David Daniel, Pastor officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mueller Funeral Home in Ottawa.
Bob was born on July 14, 1949 at the Ryburn King Hospital in Ottawa, to Ted and Nellie (McKinney) Wilson. He graduated from OTHS in 1969. Bob started working for Caterpillar in Joliet immediately after graduating. He married Gayle Riebe on July 4, 1969. He retired from Caterpillar and worked for Jim’s Formal Wear as a delivery driver, after his retirement.
Bob was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church in Ottawa, where he was president for a number of years. He also served as President of Rutland School Board for many years, as well as serving on Bakelite Credit Union board of directors. He loved the game of softball; having played and coached for several years. He was an avid hunter, bowler, and proud Cubs and Bears fan. Bob enjoyed gifting others with candies, his homemade zucchini bread, or his hand painted signs. Anyone who knew him could recognize his jovial “belly-laugh” and his outgoing personality.
He is survived by his wife, Gayle Wilson; children, Rob (Karole) Wilson of Ottawa, Christa (Marc) Fogarty of Marseilles, and Ryan (Dawn) Wilson of Ottawa; grandchildren, Madelayne (Carlos) Cota of Virginia, Nathaniel (Brooke) Wilson of New York, Gabrielle Wilson (Sekai Banes) of North Carolina, Chelsea Fogarty (Bobby Sanford) of Texas, Jaxon Fogarty of North Carolina, Kaitlyn Wilson of Ottawa, Hunter (Sabrina) Wilson of the United Kingdom, Ryan Wilson, Jr., Dustin Gerkitz, and Patrick Gerkitz all of Ottawa; a great grandchild, Rylen Gerkitz; sister Patricia Munari of Marseilles; brothers Deryl and Terry Wilson of Ottawa; sisters-in-law, Nancy Ugland, Linda (Bill) Backos, and Sherri (Keith) Countryman; and brother-in-law Wade Riebe all of Ottawa.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Eugene and Donald Davis, Ronald and Vernon Wilson; and sister, Imogene Arwood.
Pallbearers will be Rob Wilson, Ryan Wilson, Ryan Wilson, Jr., Marc Fogarty, Jaxon Fogarty, and Leon Backos. Honorary Pallbearers will be Hunter Wilson, Nathaniel Wilson, Mike Daw, Bobby Riebe, Wade Riebe, Deryl Wilson, Terry Wilson, and Bill Backos.
Memorials may be directed to Zion Lutheran Church in Ottawa or a Servant’s Heart.
Robert has been laid to rest in the Garden of Psalms at Oakwood Memorial Park.